07/09/2008
NEWS STORY
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If this afternoon's Grand Prix is even half as exciting as this morning's GP2 race, then we could be in for a great afternoon, the perfect fillip following the monotony of Valencia.
While yesterday's GP2 race had its fair share of drama, today's event was a real humdinger, with Pastor Maldonado taking victory on the very last lap.
Less than hour after yesterday's F1 qualifying, the rain began to fall, causing the GP2 race to be started behind the safety car. Then, following heavy overnight rain, the track was damp for the start of today's race. For a while it looked as though there might not be any further rain, even though track conditions were already difficult, but then, with the end of the race just a few minutes away, the rain began to fall again. The fact that only half the field finished the race give you a rough idea of the conditions.
With fifty minutes to go before today's race, it has stopped raining, but there are ominous cloud above and it seems impossible that today's Grand Prix will not be affected. While some teams were confident that the Grand Prix would not be affected, others were a little more sceptical. Than again, we know from experience that the Ardennes weather is notoriously changeable.
On paper, having taken pole position with relative ease, Lewis Hamilton would appear to be favourite for victory today. However, quite apart from the weather, there is the fact that at Spa things rarely go to plan.
The Englishman appears to be running light, while Kubica, in particular, appears to be running heavy.
Raikkonen has won here three times, and even though he is starting from the second row, one gets the sense that he hasn't entirely given up on the title. This is a make or break weekend for the Finn, for if he fails to score significant points he will be forced to play second fiddle to Massa.
Of course, following the failures in Hungary and Valencia, there is a question mark over Ferrari's reliability, and even though the Maranello outfit assures us that the con-rod problem has been resolved, we're sure that like us, Kimi and Felipe will be feeling just that little bit anxious.
In these sort of weather conditions, the word so often used is 'lottery', and we cannot help but feel that this could be the case today. While we expect the winner to be Hamilton or one of the Ferraris, not totally discounting Kovalainen, we could well see a BMW driver on the top step of the podium, or even Jenson Button! The truth is that in changeable conditions, on a circuit such as this, anything can happen and frequently does… ask some of the other drivers who have pulled off major shocks over the years.
As the drivers make their way to the grid, it has stopped raining, but it is damp. While some drivers look totally relaxed others are deep in thought, maybe they're praying for rain.
Fact is, looking at the grid, and indeed, looking at the sky, it is impossible to predict what we might be in for this afternoon. However, as we said earlier, if it's only half as good as this morning's GP2 race, we could be in for something special. Let's just hope that there is no silliness.
As the cars wait on the grid, the track is damp in some parts and dry in others, which means the teams will be making some serious decisions as to tyres. It is the start and end of the lap which is wet, with other parts of the circuit showing a clear dry line. Furthermore, it is understood that Ferrari have had to do some last minute work on Massa's car, hardly a confidence boost for the Brazilian.
With five minutes to go before the field heads off on the parade lap, the air temperature is 16 degrees C, while the track temperature is 16 degrees. Race control announces that no rain is expected within the next thirty minutes… we'll see.
Everyone is on the softer option, other than Piquet, who is on intermediates.
Despite the wheelspin they're all away, and though there's a little confusion at La Source they all get away cleanly. A poor start from Kovalainen, while Massa and Raikkonen fight one another all the way up the hill to Les Combes. A poor start from Vettel also.
Trulli spins at the final chicane at the end of lap 1, while Hamilton also makes a mistake and spins which allows Raikkonen to close and pass. Elsewhere, Fisichella needs to pit for a new nose.
Raikkonen leads Hamilton, with Massa third ahead of Alonso, as Kovalainen moves up to tenth. Bourdais is running fifth.
Hamilton is hanging on to the tail of Raikkonen, as Bourdais heads a train of cars, including Webber, Kubica and Kovalainen.
Heidfeld, who lost a couple of positions at the start, passes Piquet to take ninth, one pace behind Kovalainen, who is having a great race following that poor start.
As the three leaders run almost nose to tail, Kovalainen is all over Kubica. The Finn finally makes his move at the exit to Raidillon, as one of the Force Indias takes to the gravel.
Hamilton sets a string of fastest laps, but is unable to make a dent on Raikkonen's lead. Then again, we know that the McLaren isn't good in dirty air.
Webber and Kovalainen collide at the final chicane as the Finn makes a move that was never really going to work. The Red Bull driver has to pit while the McLaren driver is able to continue in seventh.
Hamilton pits, proof that he was running light, rejoining ahead of his McLaren teammate, who is awarded a drive through for his rash move on Webber a lap earlier. Funny how the stewards can react quickly when they need to.
Raikkonen pits next time around, the World Champion rejoining in third, a couple of cars ahead of Hamilton who is stuck behind Kovalainen.
Next time around Massa, Kovalainen and Alonso pit, however, the Finn still needs to serve his drive-through.
We should explain that we have no timing screen which means we are unable to give you much of the statistical info we normally give you.
It's all over for Piquet, who spins and crashes backwards into the tyre barriers. "I'm OK, but I'm out," he tells his crew.
Raikkonen now leads Bourdais, who has yet to stop, with Hamilton third, ahead of Massa, Vettel and Alonso. That said, Bourdais and Kubica both pit, and despite a little argy-bargy at the end of the pitlane rejoin in seventh and eighth. Kovalainen serves his penalty and rejoins in fourteenth.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 17, as Heidfeld closes in on Glock, passing the Toyota to take eighth.
After 18 laps, Raikkonen leads Hamilton by 5.8s, with Massa third, ahead of Alonso, Bourdais, Kubica, Vettel and Heidfeld. Bourdais and Kubica having a great scrap for fifth.
Barrichello drives into the Honda garage becoming the second retirement of the afternoon.
As Raikkonen increases his lead to almost 6s, the sun breaks through the clouds, the predicted rain now a distant memory.
On lap 23, Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (47.930), his lead over Hamilton hovering around the 5.5/6s mark.
At the end of lap 24, Raikkonen pits, as does Hamilton. Both fit the harder option tyre.
With 19 laps remaining, race control announces that rain is expected within the next fifteen minutes. Meanwhile, Hamilton has got the gap down to 3.8s.
Phew! Alonso makes a late, late decision to dive into the pits, as the Ferrari crew prepare for Massa. 7.9s later the Brazilian is heading down the pitlane, rejoining in third.
Kovalainen closes in on Webber (again), but this time there are no mistakes, the Finn passes the Red Bull to take ninth.
And finally the timing screens are up!
Therefore, after 29 laps, Raikkonen leads Hamilton by 1.867, with Massa third, ahead of Bourdais, who makes his second stop shortly after, rejoining in eighth.
The timing screens are down again!
The final round of stops is underway, with Kubica losing ground to Vettel following a tardy stop. Once the smoke has cleared, Raikkonen leads Hamilton by 2.2s, with Massa third, 3.3 down the road. Alonso is fourth ahead of Bourdais, who is having a stunning race. Vettel is fifth, ahead of Heidfeld, Kubica, Kovalainen and Glock.
Trulli pits at the end of lap 36, leaving Glock, leaving the Williams drivers and Button as the only other drivers still to stop.
"What do you think about the rain," asks Alonso. "It's still a possibility," he is told, "but it will be light, and it will be where you are now".
Hamilton closes to within 1.6s of Raikkonen, however, he loses a little time as he laps Nakajima.
In the stands a few fans raise their umbrellas. On the pit-wall a few hands are held out, and though there are a few drops it is nothing significant.
With 5 laps remaining, Hamilton goes quickest in the first sector, as he closes to within 0.9s of the race leader. Luca Badoer watches nervously from the pit-wall.
At the end of lap 41, Hamilton makes a minor mistake, handing back his championship rival a further second. 6s behind Massa looks safe in third, ahead of Alonso, Bourdais and Vettel.
Now the rain is visibly falling, the cars getting all the more twitchy. Hamilton closes right in on the race leader. The McLaren cuts the chicane as Raikkonen holds position, however, at Lac Source there is no mistake, the Englishman nails the Finn.
It's mayhem, Hamilton spins giving Raikkonen the lead, but the Finn also spins. They both get back on track, but as Hamilton leads Raikkonen loses control and heads into the wall, his race and championship over.
One lap remaining and Hamilton is struggling but still leading. Alonso is one of many drivers who opts to pit, but Massa chooses to soldier on. Bourdais looking very goos for a podium finish, with teammate Vettel fourth.
The suspense lasts until the very end, with Hamilton getting out of shape at the final chicane but nonetheless taking victory. Meanwhile, Heidfeld, who switched to wets, somehow makes up a 25s deficit and takes third, having passed three cars in one fell swoop. Alonso did likewise, and consequently finishes fourth, ahead of Vettel, Kubica, Bourdais and Glock.
Looking at the crews on the McLaren and Ferrari pit-wall, the picture couldn't be more different, jubilation for the Woking outfit, despair for their Maranello counterparts.
What a race, what a finish - no pun intended. While Raikkonen drove a great race, having benefitted from Hamilton's previous mistake, he was unable to keep it on the black stuff in exactly the same conditions as his young rival, and that's how races and titles are decided.
On the podium, Massa looks decidedly glum, as well he might, he was overshadowed not only by Hamilton but by his own teammate.
Heidfeld looks stunned, as though he, like us, doesn't believe what he's just done, while Alonso will be similarly shocked to have pulled off such a late result.
Despite the mistake(s), it was a great drive from Hamilton but let's not forget the two Toro Rosso drivers, especially Bourdais, who seemed destine for a podium finish. Even though they lost out, their double finish sees them close in on 'sister team' Red Bull.
With various technical problems, not restricted to the timing screens, it's been a difficult day, however, those last few laps made it all worthwhile. Maybe John Watson was right, maybe Bernie Ecclestone should be fitting sprinklers at race tracks.