Qualifying
Hamilton stormed over the line last to snatch a brilliant pole position in the drying conditions of Spa, taking Mercedes eighth pole position in the last nine races and his fourth in a row. After barely making it through with P10 in Q2, Hamilton was the last man to set his time in the changing conditions, stealing the top spot from Vettel in a breathless finish to qualifying. Rosberg briefly grabbed P1, set impressively at a time when the rain was still falling, but lost out on a chance for another go at it, leaving him prey to Hamilton and the Red Bull cars, leaving him fourth. It was a characteristically strong performance by the silver cars in the hunt for the starting grid. Red Bull played things a little safer, not opting to take any risks and reaping the rewards of second and third on the grid, just beaten to the top spot. Both drivers felt there was opportunity for more, but that it worked out well and underlines their pace. Force India saw a change in fortunes, with Di Resta looking like he would sit it out for the pole position after opting to hold back in Q3, going out on intermediate tyres just as it started to rain when everyone else had chosen slicks to try and get a lap in. With the rain coming down it looked like nobody would be able to touch him, until the rain suddenly stopped, leaving enough time for the circuit to evolve and rivals to get their laps in. He was pushed down to fifth place, equalling his best ever qualifying but with a hint of disappointment, though it made a great result for the team. Sutil ended up in 12th, which was a shame when he felt he had the speed for more and they just went for the final flying lap a little too soon before the end of the session. McLaren were buoyed by sixth place for Jenson Button, making him the third British driver in the top six. He felt he might have had more if they'd timed their final run a bit better, but was happy with his place and the wet conditions helped them get a bit more from their package. Perez by contrast was caught out by the changing conditions and not in the right place at the right time to set a lap, meaning he finished in 13th place. Lotus were left disappointed as Grosjean and Raikkonen took P7 and P8 respectively, hampered by their cars performance in the wet conditions of Q3 after going fastest in the dry at the end of Q2. Ferrari were also disappointed, with Alonso P9 and Massa P10. Alonso spun on his first run in Q3, and then just struggled to put in the lap needed, feeling they would have been more competitive if had stayed dry. Massa was the first of the pack to get onto intermediate tyres and out on track, and had the rain continued he would have stayed P2 behind Di Resta, but unfortunately with the drying track he was unable to get another good lap in at the end of the session and was relegated to P10 by the end. Sauber had a mixed day, with Hulkenberg enjoying the damp in Q1 and then just missing out on the top ten to finish P11. Gutierrez however got things wrong strategically, swapping to new intermediates at the wrong time in Q1, destroying them and leaving him P21. Caterham were rewarded for their bravery with a delicious P14 for Van der Garde as he opted to go onto slick tyres first, bolting on the mediums and tiptoeing round as they warmed up. At first it looked like it might not work out, but by the end of the session they were in the window and their gamble stepped them past Williams and into Q2, where they got P14. Pic was unlucky however, getting called to the weigh bridge, meaning he lost time necessary for a slick tyre run, leaving him P22. Marussia followed Caterham's call for the slick tyres, which paid off as both drivers kept it on the road to follow their main rival into Q2, getting both cars into it for the first time as Bianchi took P15 and Chilton P16. Williams couldn't get themselves on the right tyre at the right time, swapping to a new set of intermediates too soon and refusing the gamble of the slick tyres. It meant they had no rubber for the lap they needed, with Maldonado only managing P17 and Bottas P20, failing to repeat his changing condition heroics of Canada and leaving the drivers hoping the cars race pace could get them towards the points. In what can only be described as a disaster, Torro Rosso saw both cars eliminated in Q1, getting the timing wrong for both cars on their second run and leaving them unable to exploit the track when it was at its best towards the end of the session. It was frustrating for the team and drivers, especially Vergne, who felt he might have made top five in the dry after strong practice sessions.