Belgian Grand Prix (2010) RESULT

The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps. It rained. On and off.

Off to Spa for the first Grand Prix after the summer break. Red Bull get pole once again, but McLaren – who need a result – are in second place with Hamilton. Did it rain?

Spa is a proper Grand Prix Circuit. It’s not a huge circuit in the way the Nurburgring was, but it’s big enough and such an elongated shape that it can be glorious sunshine in the pit lane and raining cats and dogs at the other side of the circuit. Which often makes for a rather more interesting race, no more so than this year.

Webber sat on pole but got bogged down at the start, allowing Hamilton (and seemingly half the pack) to pass. Hamilton shot off in to the lead with – eventually – Button riding shotgun. Hamilton was imperious, and apart from a small excursion in to the gravel late in the race as he hit rain never looked as if he would lose his lead.

Button seemed a little less indomitable, but was holding on well in second until Red Bull’s boy-racer ran out of talent and in to Jenson as he tried to pull an overtake coming up to Bus Stop. Jenson was out straight away and Vettel ended up in 15th. Surely it’s time they stopped petulant children racing in F1?

Despite a decent showing in qualification – and the celebration of his 300th GP – Rubens Barrichello’s race came to an ignominious end as he locked up under braking in the rain and pole-axed Alonso (every cloud…). Barrichello’s car was out as a result of that coming together, but Alonso carried on. He managed the wrong tyres at the wrong time and eventually spun in the wet and lost the engine. Shame.

Once again, Robert Kubica drove an impressive race in the Renault, securing third place with Massa in the Ferrari taking fourth and the Force India of Sutil in fifth.

Sixth and seventh were taken by the Mercedes, with Michael Schumacher managing arguably his best drive of his comeback after a ten grid place penalty (after trying to mash Rubens in to the concrete wall last time out) saw him start in twenty first and end up seventh.

Sadly, it may be that Vettel’s childish, impetuous and inexperienced driving has ended Button’s chance to win back to back championships. But there are only 41 points separating the top five (Hamilton, Webber, Vettel, Button and Alonso) so, with six races and a potential 150 points up for grabs, all is not lost.

A terrific race, mixed up nicely by Spa’s unpredictable weather. You have to wonder if Bernie will soon be investing in cloud-seeding at other Grand Prix to up the excitement level.