Lewis Hamilton secured a difficult race victory at Spa-Francorchamps, overcoming three rain showers, two safety cars and a trip into the gravel trap.
The Brit was followed by Mark Webber who made a poor start, dropping to seventh at one point. Robert Kubica filled the final spot on the podium as a pit-stop error cost him P2.
Race report:
Mark Webber made a poor start, dropping several places and allowing Lewis Hamilton to take the lead, whilst Robert Kubica secured P2.
No incidents at La Source, drivers taking heed of the FIA’s warning of not using the run-off area to gain places.
The first incident involved Rubens Barrichello running into Fernando Alonso at the final chicane, whilst nearly half the field ran wide, cutting the corner thanks to an early shower.
The incident will be the subject of an FIA investigation after the race.
Alonso made an unscheduled stop as the safety car came out for several laps.
Pedro de la Rosa and Heikki Kovalainen took the opportunity to pit for inters as the rain continued to fall quite lightly.
As the race restarted, Sebastian Vettel capitalised on a mistake by Robert Kubica and passed for third behind Jenson Button and team-mate Hamilton.
Bruno Senna span on lap 6, ending his race as he returned to the pits.
Vitaly Petrov made a brave move up the inside of Nico Rosberg with Michael Schumacher following, the Mercedes drivers made slight contact, damaging Rosberg’s front-wing.
Vettel received a drive-through penalty on lap 19 for causing a collision when he ran into the side of Jenson Button, ending the Brit’s race there and then. Vettel dropped to 14th.
Mark Webber was the first front-runner to pit, followed by Kubica and Felipe Massa on lap 23. Leader, Hamilton, made his first stop on the following lap.
Sebastian Vettel’s race went further downhill as he passed Liuzzi and received a puncture for his efforts. Liuzzi managed to jump into the pits for a new front-wing, but Vettel had to continue for an entire lap on just three tyres.
Another twist in a dramatic race would come on lap 34, as the heavens opened. Timo Glock was the first man to pit for full wets, whilst the three leaders remained on track.
Hamilton had a scary moment into turn five as he went into the gravel and brushed the tyre wall, but managed to keep going to return to the pits for inters.
Robert Kubica overshot his pit-box, allowing Webber to take second.
A second safety car, thanks to Fernando Alonso spinning, saw the pack bunch up for the final four laps.
Ultimately Hamilton secured his first win at the famous Spa track with Webber in second.
Belgium Race Results:
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Pit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | L. Hamilton | McLaren | 1:29:04.268 | 2 |
| 2. | M. Webber | Red Bull | +1.571 | 2 |
| 3. | R. Kubica | Renault | +3.493 | 2 |
| 4. | F. Massa | Ferrari | +8.264 | 2 |
| 5. | A. Sutil | Force India | +9.094 | 2 |
| 6. | N. Rosberg | Mercedes | +12.359 | 1 |
| 7. | M. Schumacher | Mercedes | +15.548 | 1 |
| 8. | K. Kobayashi | Sauber | +16.678 | 2 |
| 9. | V. Petrov | Renault | +23.851 | 2 |
| 10. | J. Alguersuari | Toro Rosso | +29.457 | 3 |
| 11. | V. Liuzzi | Force India | +34.831 | 4 |
| 12. | P. de la Rosa | Sauber | +36.019 | 4 |
| 13. | S. Buemi | Toro Rosso | +39.895 | 4 |
| 14. | N. Hulkenberg | Williams | +1 lap | 2 |
| 15. | S. Vettel | Red Bull | +1 lap | 5 |
| 16. | H. Kovalainen | Lotus | +1 lap | 3 |
| 17. | L. di Grassi | Virgin | +1 lap | 1 |
| 18. | T. Glock | Virgin | +1 lap | 3 |
| 19. | J. Trulli | Lotus | +1 lap | 1 |
| 20. | S. Yamamoto | Hispania | +2 laps | 2 |
| 21. | F. Alonso | Ferrari | +7 laps | 3 |
| 22. | J. Button | McLaren | +29 laps | 0 |
| 23. | B. Senna | Hispania | +39 laps | 3 |
| 24. | R. Barrichello | Williams | +44 laps | 0 |
