F1 Belgium 2012 Qualifying: Watch Live Stream Online of Formula One Grand Prix; Preview

When and where: Qualifying for the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix gets underway at 8 a.m. ET. Coverage will be provided by Speed. Live timing and statistics will be available on Formula1.com, while a love stream of Saturday's practice session can be viewed on SpeedTV.com. Viewers in the U.K. can watch a live stream of qualifying via the BBC iPlayer.

Preview: After a five week summer break Formula One returns to the track this weekend with one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the season. The Belgian Grand Prix is loved by fans and drivers alike for the exciting racing that is so often created by the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

There was a familiar sight for the drivers as they took to the track, though, with rain largely washing out Friday practice. While there was some running in the first session, the afternoon failed to feature a single flying lap from any driver.

"It's been incredibly wet today--there were lots of rivers running across the track and lots of aquaplaning, so you had to be very wary out there," said McLaren drive Lewis Hamilton, according to the Formula One website.

If the rain continues into Saturday, then qualifying is going to be a challenge for all concerned.

"It's going to be challenging tomorrow, but everyone is in the same boat--no joke intended!" commented Hamilton.

Having ventured out of the pits late in the first session, Hamilton was 15th quickest, with Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi setting the pace.

World Championship leader Fernando Alonso did not register a single flying lap in either session, while his teammate Felipe Massa failed to even register a time.

The Spaniard will be hoping to increase his 40 point lead in the standings this weekend, with second-placed Mark Webber suffering a five-place grid penalty following an out-of-sequence gearbox change.

For his part, the Australian claimed there was little to be gained from going out in Friday's wet conditions.

"It's a shame because we love Spa and it would be nice to do some more laps, but in the end you can't really learn much in these conditions," he said.

The lack of track time will have been frustrating to fans and teams alike. After the extended break, much of the paddock has arrived in Belgium with significant upgrades. Ferrari claim to have several new parts, although as with the rest of the teams, Friday gave no indication as to how the upgrades may effect what has been an unpredictable running order so far this season.