Vettel dominates in Belgium

Sebastian Vettel, three times Formula 1 World Drivers Champion, has won the 2013 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix, dominating the race and un-challenged from the first lap.

Vettel, who took the lead from Lewis Hamilton just after getting through the first corner safely, finished the race a full sixteen seconds ahead of second placed Fernando Alonso, who drove a spectacular race fighting from ninth on the grid to second on the podium. Lewis Hamilton, who lacked the pace demonstrated by the Red Bull and Ferrari ahead of him, would settle for third position, adding another trophy to his 2013 Mercedes collection.

Nico Rosberg just missed out on a podium finish crossing the line in fourth place and adding to Mercedes’ ever growing points total in the World Constructors’ Championship, whilst Mark Webbers lack of pace meant he would settle for fifth. Button led the charge for McLaren today, finishing in sixth with Massa, Grosjean, Sutil and rumoured 2014 Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo completing the top ten finishers.

The Belgian Grand Prix got off to a surprisingly clean start with everyone making it through the first corner safely and even without any contact. Hamilton had an excellent start, holding the lead into the first corner and up Eau Rouge, before losing it to Sebastian Vettel who proceeded to build a gap of one and a half seconds over the now second placed Hamilton by the end of the first race. That would be the last the pack would see of Vettel, who routinely took off into the distance from that point onwards.

Behind the fight for the lead, Rosberg fought a surging Jenson Button for third position whilst Fernando Alonso’s spectacular start saw the Ferrari launched past Mark Webber and into P5, pushing the McLaren of Button. Four laps into the race, and Vettel had increased his lead to three and half seconds.

With various position changes happening on track, the pit stops came earlier than expected; the first cars just ten laps into the race as the dry Spa-Francorchamps circuit took its toll on the Pirelli tyres. Romain Grosjean was the only man able to manage his tyres longer than anybody else, going a full 23 laps before stopping for a fresh set of rubber.

Grosjean also had a near miss when Sergio Perez forced the Lotus driver off-track. After review, the stewards handed McLaren’s Perez a drive-through penalty for the incident.

On lap 26 Kimi Raikkonen retired from the race with what a brake failure. It was the only retirement of the race, and Raikkonen’s first registered ‘Did Not Finish’ in an incredible 38 races. Asked how he felt having had to retire after a 38 consecutive race finish run, Raikkonen replied calmly “Some days you run out of luck and today it was our turn”.

Just two laps later and there was more excitement heading into the final chicane. An on-track battle for position between no less than four drivers; Maldonado, Gutierrez, Sutil and di Resta , resulted in Maldonado coming into contact with both Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta at the Bus Stop corner. Simply clipping the back of Adrian Sutil, Maldonado then careered into Paul di Resta as the Scot took the final turn – the contact caused a severe rear left failure for di Resta and he would become the second retiree of the race.

Charles Pic would also retire from the race for Caterham, bringing the total to three DNF’s today.

Despite impressive qualifying results, ‘order was restored’ as Caterham’s van der Garde finished P16, though ahead of the Williams on Maldonado who could not recover after his incident with both Force India’s earlier. Marussia’s Bianchi and Chilton finished dead last.

Sebastian Vettel now leads the Drivers’ Championship by 46 points from second placed Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton is third, 12 points adrift of Alonso. Red Bull Racing lead the Constructors’ World Championship 77 points ahead of second placed Mercedes.

The Formula 1 calendar resumes two weeks from now on the weekend of September 06 – 08 for the Formula 1 Gan Premio D’Italia 2013.