Raikkonen Wins the Belgian Grand Prix

Ferrari finally got the break they needed as the track just seemed to part for Kimi Raikkonen at the end and he was able to take the victory in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. This win was the first for Ferrari and Raikkonen in the 2009 Formula One season and the sixth different winner in the last six races.

Jenson Button wasn't cheering after the Belgian Grand Prix

Kaikkonen’s KERS system played a major role in the beginning of the race as Raikkonen used wasted no time using his KERS to slingshot past the Italian on the fifth lap. He had Giancarlo Fisichella in the Force India offering on his tail the whole way keeping him honest through out the race on the first medium down-force circuit of the 2008 Formula One season. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel had a strong race and was closing on the two leaders as they crossed the finish line. Raikkonen crossed the finish line 0.9 seconds ahead of Fisichella and 2.9 seconds in front of Vettel.

There were two accidents that marred the opening laps of the race that changed the outcome for a number of the racers. Jenson Button’s hopes of improving his lead in the Formula One standings were put on hold until the next race. His Brawn GP was hit by Romain Grosjean’s Renault ending his day, while Hamilton Lewis’s McLaren was tagged by Jaime Alguersuari’s Toro Rosso while the two were trying to avoid the melee.

Renault’s Fernando Alonso looked like he might be on track for a good day after he had a good opening to the race. Unfortunately, a slight brush with Force India’s Adrian Sutil on the opening lap damaged his left front wheel and eventually forced him to retire from the race.

Heikki Kovalainen executed a one-stop race strategy in his McLaren that allowed him to stay ahead of Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello and finish sixth. He was just able to make it over the line in front of a closing Nico Rosberg, who had yet another strong race for Williams to take the final point in the Belgian Grand Prix.

The final line of the race see Barrichello get two points closer to Button, who is still 18 points in front of the Brazilian. Vettel moves in front of Webber with the points he achieved in this race, with 53 to the Australian’s 51.5. Brawn still leads in the constructors’ championship, with Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren following in order.

‘Image: Zuma Press”