Welcome to LIVE coverage of Belgian GP qualifying from Spa-Francorchamps.

Rain is expected in the next 10 minutes or so... consequently there are plenty of drivers out. Schumacher's crash means he will not set a timed lap and will start from the back of the grid.

Hamilton clocks a 2:09.506. The extremely long sector two (over a minute long) could be decisive today.

The wreckage of Schumacher's car is still being removed from the track... but the first timed laps are starting to be set. 2:11.806 for Buemi - not quick.

There is a yellow flag out as Schumi waves to the crowd. His car is a mess, though. Not the best way to celebrate 20 years in F1. Mercedes do not know the cause of the crash yet...

Crash! It's Michael Schumacher! He has lost a wheel in a pretty big shunt. The wheel has run free, but Schumi is fine.

Off we go! It's a 20-minute session, at the end of which we will lose the seven slowest drivers. The drivers in the queue to leave the pit lane are on intermediate tyres.

The air temperature is 16C, the track temperature 20C. There is a very slight breeze coming in from the south-west. This is a long track and there is no guarantee of consistent conditions over the course of a lap...

First things first, the weather. It has been wet all weekend so far, and the drizzle continues to fall here. It is not as soaking as it has been, but precipitation is very much in the air. It should be a fascinating hour.