UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Ferrari fly to 1-2 at Spa

Raikkonen heads Massa

No race at Spa Francorchamps can possibly dull given the simply majestic setting of the circuit, but the 2007 Belgian Grand Prix – the return of F1 to Spa after a year away – was a far from thrilling affair.

Of course, there were moments to savour, but they were few and far between.

From the moment the lights went out and the Ferrari pair ran into La Source with Kimi Raikkonen leading Felipe Massa one sensed that this was to be a Ferrari benefit, and so it was.

Raikkonen proceeded to pull a few seconds out on Massa – never more than five, however – and with both cars pit stops perfectly orchestrated they would cruise to an easy one two. Although Massa charged hard after the second stop, gaining a couple of seconds back on Raikkonen – it became clear that the order had gone out for the pair to hold station. Given that the result leaves Massa 20 points off the title leader with only thirty remaining up for grabs, this must have been pretty galling for the young Brazilian.

In contrast to the Ferrari pair running line astern into the tight chicane, the Mclaren duo were at it hammer and tongs from the off. Lewis Hamilton, starting from fourth alongside Fernando Alonso in third, went to the outside of the Spaniards car as they entered the hairpin bend, having got a marginally better jump off the line. The World Champion was having none of it, and edged the young upstart far out into the run off. The two then continued – side by side – on the run down to Eau Rouge, with Hamilton finally having to settle for the fourth place as they entered that stunning high speed sweep. This was breathtaking stuff for the boys in silver.

As far as the front four went, that was it. Despite a frantic charge following his late final pit stop in which Hamilton gained a couple of seconds on Alonso only to run wide with two laps to go, the order was set, and the Mclarens had no chance against a superior Ferrari today.

The Alonso-Hamilton fight also made a mess of Nick Heidfelds start, the German in the BMW having to back off to avoid contact and dropping to eighth in the process. From then on Heidfeld would perform perfectly, the F1.07 matching the Mclarens in the early stages of the race and, helped by excellent pit work from the team, would rise back to fifth with ease by the close of the race. This was another fine drive from a man whom we have come to expect to be the best of the rest.

Heidfeld had qualified sixth, behind his fellow German Nico Rosberg, but the order would be reversed come the flag. Rosberg and the Williams continue to perform beyond all expectations, and it was the superior pace of the BMW that allowed his countryman to jump him in the order.

Mark Webber, too, drove a fine race, the Australian, whom we almost expect to be sidelined by hydraulic problems, pushing as hard as the RB3 would let him to take a well deserved seventh place. Instead, it was team mate David Coulthard who shouldered the usual Red Bull reliability problems, the Scot retiring late in the race with – yes, you guessed - hydraulic problems.

The final point – the eighth place reward – provided us with the battle of the race. This was between Heikki Kovalainen in a one-stopping Renault, and Robert Kubica coming through the field from 15th following an engine change. This fight was nothing if not intense, the faster BMW diving here, there and everywhere over the course of the final fifteen laps, glued to the back of the perfectly driven – and suddenly very wide – Renault. It was great driving from the pair of them, and either would have deserved the point. Kovalainen – a man who has found form of late – crossed the line ahead.

Toyota had two cars on different strategies, with the top ten starting Jarno Trulli running a conventional two stop race and Ralf Schumacher opting for a single stop. In the end neither paid off particularly well as the TF107 simply did not have the pace, and the German eventually finished tenth, one place ahead of his Italian team mate.

Tonio Liuzzi drove well to take 12th in the Toro Rosso, the first man lapped, and Rubens Barrichello followed him home in the Honda having made no impact at all. These two were the only finishers from their respective teams, Sebastian Vettel having retired his very smoky Toro Rosso early on and Jenson Button another victim of hydraulic failure.

Behind these two, in 14th position, came Adrian Sutil in the Spyker, and this was a genuine candidate for drive of the race. The young German – whose talent is undisputed – made a fine start to run 15th at the end of lap one, and proceeded to battle with – and overtake – such as Jarno Trulli, Jenson Button and Ralf Schumacher and was as high as 12th on more than one occasion. He then took the fight to David Coulthard, and was on the pace of the Red Bull. That Sakon Yamamoto also showed decent pace on his way to 17th position indicates fine progress from the little team.

The other finishers – in 15th and 16th – were the two Super Aguri runners of Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson.

The title race is all but over for Felipe Massa, but with the next couple of races – Japan and China – expected to suit the F2007, Kimi Raikkonen must be considered a viable interloper in the Alonso-Hamilton battle. He has 13 points to make up on the leader – Hamilton – who now sees his led cut to only two points.

A titanic battle – thankfully on the track – is in prospect as Formula One returns to Fuji, the revamped Japanese circuit having sadly replaced the much loved Suzuka in the Far East, at least for this year. Add in the unknown factor of an unfamiliar circuit, and who would be brave enough to predict a likely winner?

Written: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 14:13:42