Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying – Hamilton beaten to pole by Rosberg

Rosberg takes pole in Belgium in the rain Formula One is back from its summer break, but normal service has resumed with Mercedes taking a one-two at Spa in qualifying for the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, but it’s Nico Rosberg on pole, beating Lewis Hamilton in to second place. The two Mercedes were in a league of their own – two seconds ahead of the best of the rest – as torrential rain made the Spa circuit teachorous. Hamilton’s qualifying was patchy – - and a bit erratic – and he also had problems with glazed discs pulling his car to the left, but Rosberg was consistent – and quick – and deserved his pole.

Crunch watch Mar 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Ben Pulman and Tim Pollard Motor Industry 31 March 2009 13:48 Tuesday 31 March 2009• Porsche said that its earnings before tax rose to €7.3 billion in the six months to the end of January – including a €6.8bn windfall from its VW share options (Financial Times)• Fritz Henderson, GM's president and chief operating officer, will step up to replace Rick Wagoner, who was ousted on Sunday as CEO of General Motors (Financial Times)• President Obama is essentially CEO-in-chief of GM – despite not owning a single cent of stock, says Detroit News commentator (Detroit News)• German chancellor Angela Merkel gives assurances that any would-be investors in GM's European arm will be given state support. Opel is asking for €3.3 billion in aid – and up to 25,000 jobs in Germany depend on it, with up to 300,000 jobs across Europe including Saab and Vauxhall (BBC News)Monday 30 March 2009• General Motors' chief executive Rick Wagoner has been ordered to resign by US president Barack Obama with immediate effect. It's part of Obama's administration's critique of GM and Chrysler's turnaround plans – he's understood to be unhappy with the plans submitted (BBC News)• New GM non-executive chairman Kent Kresa has admitted that at the company's next general meeting it will have 'a majority of new directors' (General Motors)• Chrysler will receive US government aid for the next 30 days, but the Obama administration has said that if the company cannot secure a tie-up with the Fiat Group within that time period it will not receive any more money from the taxpayers and could go into liquidation.

New Mercedes SL (2012) caught on video

New Mercedes SL 2012 - out Near the Nurburgring We go eight months without a single story on the 2012 Mercedes SL and then two turn up at once. First Mercedes quietly drop the V12 engine from the SL (SL600 and SL63), and now we have video of the new SL on its way to, and on its way round, the Nurburgring. All of which may point towards a reveal earlier than we expected.