The Belgian Grand Prix!

For some reason, Spar always seems to deliver an exiting grand prix, and today was no exception. With an unusual grid line up after qualifying, excluding the top two cars, we saw Jenson button starting in 13th due to an apparent communications difficulty, Pastor Maldenado in 21st after a five place penalty for smashing into Lewis Hamilton in qualifying, and Michael Schumacher in 24th and last place because his rear tyre fell off causing him to crash out before he could gain position in qualifying. Sebastian vettel gave his usual flawless performance to gain another poll position, and Lewis Hamilton made second place on the grid.

Nico Rosberg got the most amazing start we’ve seen in a long time, charging into second place off the starting grid, to then overtake Vettel to take 1st place in a very daring run. Michael Schumacher rocketed up into 14th place from last, showing we’ve not seen the last of this former world champion. A big smash on the 1st corner took out several cars, shaking up the pack and giving many of the other drivers a great opportunity to get through. Fernando alonso passed Lewis Hamilton on lap 2, as Vettel blasted past Rosberg in the third lap. Button and webber had to pit as their cars were damaged in the first corner. The Ferrari’s were absolutely on fire during the first quarter, though Lewis Hamilton gave them a huge run for their money.

So Many cars limped round the track with damaged front and rear wings. Evidence to the ballistic nature of this exciting track.

Vettel had to pit early for new tyres, dropping him back into seventh, as Alonso lead the pack into lap seven with a comfortable and ever expanding lead. Rosberg drove a fantastic and dry defensive race, reluctant to give away an inch of track, with Lewis Hamilton following hard on his heels in third. Third changed to second moments later as Lewis’s Maclaren roared past Rosberg into second. Sebastian Vettel tore up the track after his pit stop to take 6th and then 5th in quick succession.

Both Toro Roso’s retired early unfortunately, with badly damaged cars.

Webber refused to yield to Fernando Alonso, almost causing an almighty crash, narrowly avoided by Alonso’s skilful manoeuvring. Alonso later took back position, it was almost a matter of pride and his sheer pace and determination paid off well.

Every car battled spectacularly in this epic race, giving us what we’ve all come to love about formula one. A truly great day of racing! Each driver fought hard and fast for every position, taking all possible chances and wringing every last ounce of speed from the cars. Yet another truly awesome Grand Prix…

The line up into lap 12 read Vettel, Alonso, webber, Kobayashi, Petrov, Hamilton. An exciting line up to say the least. Kobayashi managed to keep position right up until a devastating smash with Lewis hamtons Maclaren. The crash annihilated Lewis Hamiltons car, ending his race and leaving Maclarens hopes in the capable hands of Jenson button.

The stewards decision to not penalise Kobayashi for an incident which was clearly his fault left us all gaping at the screen in horror. Surely if the tables had been turned, and Lewis Hamilton had taken out another driver, he would have immediately been penalised and made to do a drive through penalty, or some such punishment for recklessly endangering another driver unnecessarily. The decision to do nothing was a clear slight against Lewis Hamilton, and makes us all wonder at the fairness of it all, faced against the overwhelming amount of penalties Lewis has received in recent races. We all agree that Kobayashi is a great driver, and have thoroughly enjoyed all of his races. This however, was a poor judgement call which cost Lewis Hamilton the race, and could have been much worse. The lack of a stewards enquiry, and the decision to do nothing only gives credence to the fans worries about Hamilton being singled out for punishment in races. After the safety car, the line up was Alonso, Vettel, Webber, Rosberg, Massa, Suttil.

Michael Schumacher sat comfortably in seventh from last place, as Button took two places to gain eighth in a very risky but highly profitable manoeuvre.

With the race not even near half way done, we were perched perpetually on the edge of our seats, watching in riveted anticipation as the incredible action unfolded before us! What a fantastic Grand Prix.

The Button Schumacher battle into lap 21 was breathtaking to say the least. With Button using every trick in the book to try and overtake the former world champion. Schumacher’s seasoned skills came into their own as he showed why he’s still a contender.

Finally button overtook on lap 22, and then took Adrian Suttil on a very risky corner which paid off to get him into 6th place behind Phillipe Massa.

A sensational move from Button saw him tear past Massa to take fifth place in yet another fantastic move. The sheer amount of overtaking in this race made it one of the most enjoyable races to watch in the entire season. Spar never fails to deliver!

The leaders all began complaining of tyre blistering into lap 27, which was music to Jenson Buttons ears as he stormed along in 4th, gaining ground at every turn.

Sergio Perez retired with broken suspension in lap 29. The fifth retirement so far in a Grand Prix which is seeing so many cars taken out of the race.

Vettel pitted from 1st place in lap 31 as his tyres were blistering too badly to keep going, leaving Webber in 1st with Jenson Button somehow having launched himself into second place?  Button then took the lead as Webber pitted, and Vettel used his new tyres to his advantage to take back 1st place. The Maclaren team jumped into action, answering with a lightening fast pot of their own, with soft option tyres on, giving Button the extra edge he so badly needed. N

Michael Schumacher cleared the force india with relative ease to take 6th place. Having started last, Michael certainly proved that he is still up there with the best.

Into lap 35 the leaderboard read Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Button, Rosberg, Schumacher, with Webber and Button homing in on The Ferrarri of Fernando Alonso, in relentless fashion.

Webber launched past Alonso With the DRS wide open, and a perfect slingshot manoeuvre, the red bull stormed into second place.

Coming towards the end of the race, Sebastian Vettel lead the pack with a comfortable 7 second lead over his team mate Webber, with Alonso 2 seconds behind him, and Button 3 seconds back from The Ferrarri.

The battle for third place dominated the end of the grand Prix, as did the battle for fifth between Schumacher and Rosberg.

Barechello hit Kobayashi on lap 42, damaging his front wing and causing him to have to pit immediately.

Finally on lap 42 Jenson Button blasted past Fernando Alonso to take third place, as Schumacher storms past his teammate to take fifth.

Every single lap of this wondrous race has been an edge of your seat, adrenalin fuelled roller-coaster of spectacular driving and some of the most epic racing of the entire season so far

The definite man of the day had to be our own Jenson Button. His determination and spectacular overtaking gave us an utterly brilliant race to enjoy. Coined as the pass master by the commentators.

Sebastian Vettel won with his usual style of calm and collected driving skill. Closely followed by Mark Webber in a well fought second, with Jenson Button gaining a third place podium finish from starting so far back in the pack that we thought it unlikely he would get as far as he did. What a fantastic race by all of the drivers, especially to Michael Schumacher who came up from last place on the grid to take fifth at the end of the race. No mean feat by anybodies count.

The Belgian Grand Prix in Spar proved once again that it is by far, one of the most enjoyable and exciting tracks in our racing calendar.

After three weeks of no racing, Formula One exploded back into our screens to give us one of the most fantastic races we’ve seen in the entire season. Hurrah!!