Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Belgian Grand Prix where Nico Rosberg starts on pole position from Lewis Hamilton as the battle for the championship reaches a crucial phase. Lights out 13.00 BST.

Hamilton now reporting he’s sliding so much that his left rear is wearing fast. Not good news. Not good at all. Hamilton told he must do 15 laps before pitting again. Ricciardo passes Vettel for second!

The real beneficiaries are, of course, the Red Bulls. Rosberg still out with that damaged nose. Hamilton will be hoping for rain...

Hamilton also confirming his floor has sustained some damage. He’ll do really well to get something out of this today, currently 18th and a minute behind Rosberg. Rosberg also under threat from Vettel.

So after all this drama, Rosberg leads from Vettel and Ricciardo, who passes Alonso. Lotterer has stopped on the track and Maldonado also out. Button up to eighth.

There also may be damage to the front wing of Nico Rosberg in that incident. Hamilton comes in for new rubber. Fernando Alonso is fourth but faces a five-second penalty for violating 38.5 of the technical regulations at the start.

DRAMA! Rosberg contacts Hamilton as he tries to overtake. He gives Hamilton a puncture and he has to limp back almost a whole lap to the pits. A disaster for Hamilton again and he will be fuming. Definitely looked like Rosberg’s fault.

AND WE’RE RACING IN BELGIUM! Drama at the start as Lewis Hamilton overshoots his box. He reverses then gets away brilliantly to snatch the lead! Vettel up to second, Rosberg third. Brillliant news for the Brit, who defends from Vettel who overshoots and loses his place. What a start!

Fernando Alonso is left stranded on the grid on the formation lap but finally gets away. Looks like a battery problem but he does get going. Should be able to recover his grid position. Most cars starting on the soft compound.

FIVE MINUTES TO LIGHTS OUT: Current weather conditions are overcast with Eric Boullier reporting a shower could be coming. The intermediates and wets may come into play. Stay tuned for what could be an absolute gripper!

TEN MINUTES TO LIGHTS OUT: With changeable conditions a possibility, getting a good start will be crucial as always. Check out our exclusive guide from Will Gray in collaboration with Caterham.

STRATEGY: It’s looking like a two-stop strategy for most teams unless we get a safety car situation. Remember, Pirelli have brought the soft option tyre and the medium prime to Spa this weekend along with the standard intermediate and wets.

WEATHER UPDATE: Currently no rain after a few drops 20 minutes ago. The sun is now out. Typical Spa, you just never know!

Fernando Alonso: "We expected to have Williams quite strong here, but maybe with qualifying being wet it masked their true pace, so maybe tomorrow in dry conditions we can expect them to be very competitive."

Valtteri Bottas: “We usually get good starts so any positions gained at the start will be important. But the race is long so if we don’t gain on the Red Bulls and Ferraris, it’s still a long race.”

With only seven rounds of the championship remaining after Belgium, only 11 points separate leader Rosberg from his Mercedes rival. A 1-2 in Hamilton’s favour would cut that gap to four points but with a chance of rain in spa, anything could happen.

The latest news is exciting for all neutral F1 fans and the drivers starting behind the dominant Mercedes duo. It wasn't forecast until after the race but light rain is starting to fall on some parts of the circuit...

Rosberg beat Hamilton to pole in a wet session on Saturday but it later emerged that Hamilton was yet again hampered by brake problems. Sebastian Vettel starts from third on the grid ahead of Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas. Kevin Magnussen, Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and Jenson Button round out the top ten.