Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees. It is bright and sunny.

Antonelli set the pace this morning, however it wasn't just his speed that impressed but rather the fact that he did it straight out of the box on his first flying lap.

Norris was second quickest, as was the case in FP2, but the Briton faces a ten-place grid penalty, while Verstappen was third ahead of Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Bortoleto and Hadjar.

Again, the strange disparity between teammates was there and in all honesty one gets the impression that there is some sort of strategic game at work here.

In the final moments of the session Hamilton crashed out in an incident that was eerily reminiscent of Gasly's crash yesterday, leaving his mechanics with the mammoth task of rebuilding the car over the break.

In terms of the 'best of the rest', Audi is looking strong, as are the Racing Bulls, as usual.

Green light, but there is no immediate rush to action. Eventually Stroll breaks the deadlock, the Canadian leading Bottas and Perez out into the sunshine.

As the trio get halfway around their first flying lap, they are joined by Gasly, Colapinto, Verstappen and Antonelli, who has Russell behind. Clearly, slipstreaming is going to be in demand.

Bottas crosses the line at 50.011, however his teammate, with the benefit of the tow, posts 49.307. Stroll pits.

His car rebuilt, Hamilton is on track.

Gasly posts a 47.539, Colapinto a 47.731 and Verstappen a 45.930.

Antonelli can only manage 46.304, which puts him second.

Russell goes third, but is demoted when a 46.191 puts Lindblad second.

Lawson goes fifth, ahead of Sainz, but both are demoted when Leclerc goes fourth with a 46.376.

Hadjar goes second (46.062), while a 46.502 puts Hamilton ninth.

Norris goes top with a 45.865.

"We lost a lot of temperature in the garage," reports Hamilton.

Following the first wave, it's: Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Lindblad, Antonelli, Leclerc, Russell, Piastri, Lawson and Hamilton.

Antonelli is first out for the final assault, he is followed by Russell and the Cadillacs. As more drivers head out it is pretty much a two-by-two affair with the aim being to take advantage of the tow.

Norris, Verstappen and Hadjar opt not to run again.

Antonelli remains fifth, but his teammate, thanks to the tow, goes fourth with a 46.1852.

Lindblad remains fifth, as Lawson goes ninth, Sainz twelfth and Bearman thirteenth.

Leclerc remains sixth, as Hamilton improves to fourth with a 46.124.

Colapinto goes thirteenth, which demotes Albon into the drop zone, the Thai driver missing out by 0.007s.

Norris is quickest, ahead of Verstappen, Hadjar, Hamilton, Russell, Lindblad, Leclerc, Antonelli, Piastri and Lawson.

We lose Albon, Ocon, Bottas, Perez, Alonso and Stroll.

"We need to make a better car," James Vowles tells Albon.

Colapinto gets Q2 underway, the Argentine followed by his alpine teammate. Next out is Antonelli, with Russell in hot pursuit, followed by Bearman, Sainz and the Red Bulls. Last out are the Ferraris, Leclerc leading the way.

Antonelli is setting a strong pace in S1 and again in S2.

Colapinto posts a 47.0086, Gasly a 46.382 and Antonelli a 45.152. Russell goes second with a 45.689, 0.547s off his teammate's pace.

Verstappen splits the Mercedes with a 45.589, as Lindblad goes third and Piastri fourth.

Norris goes second but is demoted when Leclerc posts a 45.397.

Hamilton goes fourth (45.543), ahead of Verstappen, Lindblad and Piastri.

Ahead of the final assault, Lawson, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Sainz and Bearman are in the drop zone, with Bortoleto, Hadjar and Russell hovering.

Hadjar is first out, followed by Gasly, Colapinto, Sainz and Russell. Leclerc, though second, heads out, the only driver in the top five to do so.

Hadjar and Gasly both improve in S1, as do Sainz and Colapinto.

Hadjar remains ninth and Gasly remains twelfth and Colapinto thirteenth.

Russell remains eighth, Lindblad sixth and Lawson eleventh. No improvements.

"Sorry Nico, we have to stop the car," Hulkenberg is told on the run down to Pouhon, "we have a hydraulic leak."

Quickest is Antonelli, ahead of Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, Lindblad, Piastri, Russell, Hadjar and Bortoleto.

We lose Lawson, Gasly, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Sainz and Bearman.

Check out our Saturday gallery from Spa here.