10 Unforgettable Moments From The Belgian Grand Prix

Despite the threat of rain, the Belgian Grand Prix took place in dry conditions. However, it didn’t need wet weather to make it a thriller, with Daniel Ricciardo taking a popular victory at Spa-Francorchamps after benefitting from a collision between the two Mercedes drivers on the second lap.

Nico Rosberg recovered to second place, with Valtteri Bottas putting in another strong performance to take third. Lewis Hamilton retired after a disastrous race. In what was another action-packed round of the 2014 season, here are 10 memorable moments:

1. A storming start

A great start for Lewis Hamilton saw the 2008 world champion take the lead away from his team-mate at the first corner, with Sebastian Vettel also making his way past Rosberg. Contact at the back ruined Romain Grosjean and Jules Bianchi’s race.

Vettel didn’t hold on to second for long. After attempting to take the lead from Hamilton at Les Combes, he ran wide and cut the corner, dropping to third.

2. Contact

The turning point in the race took place on lap two, with Hamilton and Rosberg making contact at Les Combes after the latter attempted to take the lead. Rosberg’s front wing clipped Hamilton’s left-rear tyre, giving the Brit a puncture and dropping him to the back of the pack.

3. A face full of debris

In one of the strangest moments in recent F1 history, a piece of punctured tyre from Bianchi’s lap one contact with Grosjean managed to somehow attach itself to Rosberg’s aerial. The large piece of debris flapped around for a while, before detaching itself.

4. A painful lock-up

This lock-up from Rosberg at the start of his second stint had many F1 fans on the edge of their seats. Fortunately he didn’t run into anyone, but it gave his car terrible vibration and caused an early pit stop.

5. Alonso loses time

Fernando Alonso lost crucial time at his first pit stop after he was handed a five-second stop/go penalty. This was because his mechanics and engineers failed to leave the car and grid before the formation lap started, which is against regulations.

6. Hamilton gives up

With floor damage, Hamilton struggled to make progress and requested to retire the car to save the engine. Mercedes eventually decided to do just that on lap 39.

7. Frantic battles

In the closing stages of the race, we witnessed some incredible battles for fifth place, with Kevin Magnussen, Vettel, Alonso and Jenson Button all involved. It got quite aggressive at times, with Red Bull Racing’s four-time world champion eventually emerging ahead.

Magnussen was handed a 20-second time penalty and two points on his superlicense after the race for forcing Alonso off track.

8. The smile returns

Despite Rosberg rapidly closing in on Ricciardo, the Aussie did just enough to hold on to first place. He took the chequered flag 3.3 seconds clear of the Mercedes driver to score Red Bull Racing’s 50th win and the third of his career. Bottas finished in third after another impressive drive, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen – his best result of the season.

9. The Belgian GP villain

Some fans were clearly not happy with Rosberg’s mistake on lap two, booing the German as he took to the podium to collect his second place trophy. They were then all told to shut up by Eddie Jordan, and most did just that.

10. That didn't last long

Andre Lotterer’s debut F1 race for Caterham ended on the first lap after a mechanical issue with his CT05. Rumours circulating the paddock indicate that Formula Renault 3.5’s Carlos Sainz Jr and Roberto Merhi could make similar appearances for the Leafield-based outfit later in the season, although the regulations state that a team is only allowed four drivers per year.