Hamilton storms to Belgium pole, Force India lock out second row

Lewis Hamilton took pole position from title rival Sebastian Vettel in a barmy rain-affected qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, with Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez set to start third and fourth for the newly minted Racing Point Force India, who jumped Red Bull in a stunning performance.

Ferrari had topped every practice session and were the quickest in Q1 and Q2, but a sudden downpour before the top-10 shootout once again turned things on its head, as it had in Hungary before the summer break.

As in Hockenheim and Budapest, Hamilton got the better of Vettel in wet conditions to take a record-breaking fifth pole at Spa, and the Ferrari man will have to look to do something on the opening lap as he tries to eat into Hamilton's 24-point championship lead.

An incredible story unfolded behind the title rivals, however, as a high-downforce set-up at Red Bull hampered Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, opening the door for Force India and Haas.

In the past month, Force India have gone into administration, been bought out and only had their place in the weekend's race confirmed on Thursday evening.

Ocon taking third place - his best qualifying performance in F1 - only adds to the astonishing nature of the achievement, with the Frenchman reportedly close to losing his seat in the team if Lance Stroll follows his father to the team.

Romain Grosjean qualified fifth, with Kimi Raikkonen alongside him in sixth after sitting in the pits as times tumbled down at the end of Q2.

QUALIFYING RESULTS

Q2

Nico Hulkenberg bowed out due to his impending grid penalties, but Valtteri Bottas - set to join him on the back of the grid - went through on soft tyres. Mercedes' decision to run the Finn denied Pierre Gasly a spot in the top-10 shootout, with Brendon Hartley seeing his chance go up in smoke as he spun at turn one on his final flying lap.

Q1

Something of an ignominious session for McLaren as their two current drivers and future racer - Carlos Sainz - all went out. Stoffel Vandoorne's miserable weekend drags on - last in all three practice sessions and also in qualifying. The Williams pair also dropped out.