Image source, Getty Images

McLaren's Lando Norris will start in third and he spoke to Sky Sports: "I mean the start will be the best opportunity to go forward, but everyone thinks the same thing so it's always a tough one, but a long run down to Turn Five so we will see what we can do."

On Max Verstappen being a threat: "We have advantage in the straights and in the corners so we will try and maximise what we've got."

As the name states - this is a 100km sprint to the finish.

The race is about one-third of a typical Grand Prix distance and should last about 30 minutes.

Lights out is in three minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

Pole sitter Oscar Piastri spoke to Sky Sports: "It's not as straight forward around here, the run to Turn Five is obviously a long one, so we will see what happens there.

"The pace that we've had this weekend has been really strong. It's a track where you can pass and you just need to be quick around the whole lap, if we've got good pace, we will be in a good place."

On getting pole: "It was very satisfying, it was obviously just for the sprint but it was a good lap and when you put a good lap on the board it's always a nice feeling."

It is a suspected water leak issue that has scuppered Pierre Gasly's Sprint race and it is sounding like he is going to have to sit it out.

Ian Fergusson
BBC weather forecaster

With 15 minutes to the start, air temp is 21.1C & track 37.4C. Light NW wind. Dry; FIA official risk of rain is 0%. There's a low risk (currently <20%) of a shower later this afternoon. FIA guidance remains a 60% shower chance for tomorrow's race.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent at Spa-Francorchamps

McLaren's Oscar Piastri produced a breathtaking performance to set pole position for the sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Australian, the world championship leader, was 0.477 seconds quicker than Red Bull's Max Verstappen and 0.618secs ahead of team-mate and title rival Lando Norris.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fourth, but 0.768secs off the pace, while his team-mate Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in the first session and will start 18th after a mistake on his first lap and a spin at the final corner on his second.

Esteban Ocon's Haas took a surprise fifth place, split from his British team-mate Oliver Bearman by Williams' Carlos Sainz.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top 10.

Piastri only just made it through to the final shootout for pole in 10th place after having his first lap in the second session ruled out for exceeding track limits at Raidillon.

But he had looked the quickest driver all day and he delivered on his potential with impressive effect.

Image source, F1.com

This was how qualifying ended yesterday but the grid isn't quite the same now with the Alpine issues.

Not a good start to Saturday for Alpine.

Franco Colapinto is starting in the pitlane and Pierre Gasly's car is just being wheeled off the grid and back into the garage.

Sprint race: 11:00 (BBC Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Qualifying: 15:00-16:00 (BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Image source, Getty Images

"Almost perfect".

That's how McLaren described Oscar Piastri's Sprint qualifying session as he produced a dominant display to take pole position comfortably clear of the rest of the field.

McLaren are taking some stopping at the moment, and that looks set to continue in today's Sprint race and Belgian Grand Prix qualifying.