In complete contrast to the parade in Valencia two weeks ago, today’s Belgian Grand Prix at historic Spa Francorchamps was a great race on a great racetrack. Kimi Raikkonen drove like his old self and pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton was breathing down his neck for almost the entire race.
When it started to rain with just a couple of laps to go the leaders knew that that they would have to tough it out on their dry-weather tyres as there was no time to stop for wets.
Hamilton short-cut the chicane and took the lead but then seemed to slow slightly to give the position back to Raikkonen. Falling in right behind him he was back on the power and banging wheels. Both cars went wide on a corner and then Hamilton spun giving the lead to Raikkonen. Seconds later Raikkonen lost control and drove into the wall. Tilt. Game over.
Nick Heidfeld and Fernando Alonso both stopped for intermediate tyres and made up three places in the final laps, passing Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastian Vettel who were in third and fourth places before the rain. This would have been Bourdais’ first F1 podium and an amazing result for the Red Bull B-team but it wasn’t to be.
Several hours later Hamilton was given a 25 second penalty for cutting the chicane which dropped him from first to third. Timo Glock also received a similar penalty which dropped him out of the points.
Let the appeals and arguments commence.
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Felipe Massa (BRA) | Ferrari | 10 |
| 2 | Nick Heidfeld (GER) | BMW Sauber | 8 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton (GBR) | McLaren | 6 |
| 4 | Fernando Alonso (ESP) | Renault | 5 |
| 5 | Sebastian Vettel (GER) | Toro Rosso | 4 |
| 6 | Robert Kubica (POL) | BMW Sauber | 3 |
| 7 | Sebastien Bourdais (FRA) | Toro Rosso | 2 |
| 8 | Mark Webber (AUS) | Red Bull | 1 |
| Fastest Qualifier: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) | |||