Formula One: Belgium Grand Prix Report
Kimi “Krash” Raikkonen wins the Belgium F1 race after taking out half the field in the first lap! Well close….
Ferrari stormed back into the winner’s circle at Spa during the latest Gran Prix event by doing what NO other entrant could possibly do, that is to cause such first lap chaos and receive absolutely NO penalty? Was it really just another example of a “racing incident”? I think not, as Kimi “Nervous” Raikkonen driving the Ferrari F60 was trying to win the race on the very first lap and ruined the race for several significant participants, mainly Lewis “Current WC” Hamilton winner of the previous GP and also for Jensen “Push” Button, winner of the first several races and currently still the driving champion leader!
The Brawn BGP-001 cars were off the pace even as Ruben Barrichello qualified up front but was light on fuel. The Toyota of Jarno “Amazing” Trulli qualified a rapid second and retired during the race with yet another reliability problem, this time it was brakes. This team is under pressure to produce a win or go home and call it a day! The Manufacturers are dropping like flies now!
Surprise pole sitter Giancarlo “I’m Italian” Fisichella driving the ever-improving Force India VJM02 certainly did not deliver the goods with what was his best pace and chance for victory in some time, instead he finished second! Too bad for the fledging team owned by Indian Industrialist Vijay Mallya, that he was for most of the entire race held at bay because he thinks that Ferrari will be calling for him to replace Luca “Bad” Badoer who is subbing for Felipe Massa. Now Fisichella waits by the phone for the Scuderia to call in time for Monza. Keep waiting! If they were going to call, it’s because you would have had the guts to pass Raikonen for the leap and pulled it off brilliantly. That did not happen, so don’t expect a phone call, or text message, or to read it for fact on the Internet.
Good news for Sebastian “the Heir”Vettel driving his usually dominant Red Bull RB5 that he finished third and was able to make ground on Button and his teammate as well. The Renault engine was strong and reliable for this grueling event. Speaking of Renault, Fernando “Best Driver “Alonso retired with yet another front wheel problem and both he and his team are a constant source of rumor and innuendo! Talk still centers on the Silly Season while everyone waits to see what Alonso will do! Most say that he is going to Ferrari while some speculate that he is returning to McLaren, and Renault themselves state that he will be back there for next year. The team however is now embroiled in a new controversy that they “fixed” the results of a race previously.
The BMW’s finished fourth and fifth, Robert “Scooby” Kubica and Nick “Slick” Heidfeld, as the F109 suited Spa better than any previous venue. The final three finishers in the points were Heikki “Slug” Kovalainen driving the sole surviving McLaren MP4/24 in sixth, Rubens Barrichello seventh and Nico “Chico” Rosberg in the Williams FW31.
After Raikkonen helped take out the major competitors and Fisi was afraid to pass him, the race was essentially over! Too bad as it had the making of a great race but didn’t happen! There’s always next time though…