F1 2019 Belgian Grand Prix: Friday as it happened!

Click here for full live coverage of the 2019 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix. 

With the Formula 1 summer break over, the action returns this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps for round 13 of 21 in the 2019 F1 world championship.

Friday hosts the traditional opening practice sessions which will see Alexander Albon make his Red Bull debut having been promoted at the expense of Pierre Gasly who will see out the rest of the 2019 campaign at Toro Rosso.

Lewis Hamilton holds a 62-point lead at the top of the F1 world championship standings heading into the Belgian GP with Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, fresh from signing his new deal with the world champions, acting as Hamilton’s nearest title contender.

Max Verstappen will be looking to maintain his strong form before the summer break with Red Bull having claimed two wins, one further podium and a pole position across the last four rounds.

Nicolas Latifi steps in for George Russell at Williams for the opening free practice session.

Alfa Romeo Racing has called on third and reserve driver Marcus Ericsson to be on standby with Kimi Raikkonen carrying a leg injury picked up during the summer break.

The 90-minute FP1 session starts at 11:00 followed by the FP2 session at 14:00 (all local time).

F1 is also joined by support series Formula 2 and Formula 3 at the Belgian round.