Belgium   31 Aug-02 Sep 2012
Shell Belgian Grand Prix
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Francorchamps, Belgium Event Description: Race Distance: 44 laps, 308.052 km

The circuit at Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most storied courses in all of F1. The original 9.3 mile course created out of the public roads between Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot in 1924 has been reduced to a much safer 4.3 mile course. While the infamous Masta Kink was lost in the name of safety, the phenomenal Eau Rouge turn remains, and is one of the most spectacular curves in all of motorsports, taken by Formula 1 cars flat-out. The rest of the course has a very old-school feel as it winds over and around the local hill-sides, providing the drivers the feeling of actually driving somewhere rather than just lapping in an enclosed stadium.

Spa in 2011 was wet during qualifying and dry on race day, leaving teams with perhaps more downforce than they wanted during the event. Vettel wins again, with Webber making it a Red Bull 1-2. Button uses his smooth style to allow an early set of hard tires to get him to 3rd. Qualifying Summary: With dry weather a scarcity before qualifying, many teams were left guessing when it came time to lay down their fast laps.

Button surprises the field with a resurgence of pace found during the summer break, taking pole for McLaren. Additionally surprising, Kobayashi and Maldonado grab the next two fastest times, though Maldonado will start with a 3 place penalty for obstruction.

It's bad news for Vettel, Schumacher, and Massa who all fail to exit Q2. Rosberg fails to exit Q1 and will have a gearbox penalty.

The top 10 Qualifiers in Spa:
BUT KOB MAL* RAI PER ALO WEB** HAM GRO DIR VET
* 3 spot pentalty (impeding)
** 5 spot penalty (gearbox) Race Summary: A jump start by Maldonado set the scene for the craziness of turn 1 where Grosjean contacts Hamilton causing a chain reaction that took out nearly all the front runners. For the first time ever, it seems the teams caught out in qualifying were counting themselves lucky.

Button at the pole escaped the carnage. But Alonso, Hamilton and Perez were all knocked out, making the championship a little more interesting. From lights to flag, Button led the race for his 2nd win of the season. Behind him, also I on a 1 stop strategy, Vettel gently uses his tires to grab 2nd. Raikkonen rounds out the podium at a race many were sure he would win. Driver Classification for Round 12: Fantasy Results: Event Media: