Blistering tyres, a lack of dry running, different strategies and the sweeping corners of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit all played a crucial role in what proved to be one of the best races of the season.Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Mark Webber all had a turn at the front of the pack but, after 44 laps, it was Vettel who was in the P1 slot.
The reigning World Champ finished ahead of Webber and Button, who had started P13.
As for Hamilton, he retired on lap 13 after contact was made between himself and Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi, which pitched the McLaren driver into a spin and into the barriers.
And as he hit one of the boards, spewing debris all over the track, the Safety Car also made a brief appearance for three laps.
Alonso eventually finished P4 as he just didn't have the pace in the latter stint to hold off the fast-closing Button.
Rosberg could only manage P6 after he was overtaken by his team-mate Michael Schumacher just a few laps from the end of the grand prix. It was a fitting end and a fantastic performance from the seven-time World Champ, who started P24 and finished P5 as he celebrates 20 years in F1.
Results
01. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1h26.44.893
02. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 3.741
03. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 9.669
04. Alonso Ferrari + 13.022
05. Schumacher Mercedes + 47.464
06. Rosberg Mercedes + 48.674
07. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 59.713
08. Massa Ferrari + 1m06.076
09. Petrov Renault + 1m11.917
10. Maldonado Williams-Cosworth + 1m17.615
11. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 1m23.994
12. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1m31.976
13. Senna Renault + 1m32.985
14. Trulli Lotus-Renault + 1 lap
15. Kovalainen Lotus-Renault + 1 lap
16. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 1 lap
17. D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth + 1 lap
18. Glock Virgin-Cosworth + 1 lap
19. Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth + 1 lap
Did Not Finish
Perez Sauber-Ferrari 27
Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth 13
Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 12
Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 6
Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1
Source: Planet-F1
