Kimi Raikkonen won the Belgian Grand Prix for the third time in
a row yesterday, leading a Ferrari one-two to revive his title
challenge.
Brazilian Felipe Massa finished second, 4.6 seconds behind the
Finn, with McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso third to
cut teammate Lewis Hamilton's overall lead to two points.
With three races remaining, 22-year-old British rookie Hamilton
has 97 points to Spaniard Alonso's 95. Raikkonen, celebrating his
13th career win and fourth of the year, is on 84 with Massa taking
his tally to 77.
If any proof were needed that the gloves were off between the
McLaren drivers, whose team was stripped of all its 2007
constructors' points and fined US$100 million on Thursday for its
part in a spy controversy, Alonso forced Hamilton off the track
coming out of the first corner.
Ferrari mathematically clinched the Formula One constructors'
title, subject to any appeal from McLaren against its penalty in
the next week.
Ferrari, celebrating its third one-two of the year and past five
races, now has 161 points. Second-placed BMW-Sauber is on 90 with
54 remaining to be won. McLaren would have had 177.
Germany's Nick Heidfeld was fifth for BMW Sauber with compatriot
Nico Rosberg sixth for Williams.
Australian Mark Webber collected two points for Red Bull while
Finland's Heikki Kovalainen wrapped up the scorers with eighth
place for Renault.
(China Daily via Agencies September 17, 2007)