belgian grand prix belgian grand prix formally ing belgian grand prix formula motor race held september near town spa belgium 13th race formula season lap race won ferrari team initial winner driver cutting gaining advantage hamilton started pole position alongside title rival hamilton teammate started winner following spin hamilton second lap led race rain fell lap hamilton performed pass crashed following lap rain heavier finished second road hamilton followed hamilton received second penalty demoted place advanced second positions appealed decision case declared court ruling second penalties challenged penalty prompted global press discussion primarily united_kingdom italy drivers questioning decision victory hamilton demoted narrowed gap championship points report background heading 13th race season driver leading drivers championship points ferrari driver second place points points followed points championship ferrari led points following european grand prix august mid season testing took place italy ferrari concentrated aerodynamic set tests long set quickest times day ahead driver quickest second day spun gravel bringing brief halt testing hamilton fastest day lost control car drove track limiting testing time minor repairs performed underside car practice qualifying practice sessions held sunday race friday saturday friday morning afternoon sessions lasted minutes session saturday morning lasted hour session held dry track cloudy skies fastest time quicker hamilton completed light rain second session grew momentarily heavier half way forcing teams switch wet set ups hamilton led running set faster times late session drying track track little damage spin forced session halted minutes debris removed water cleared track conditions improved following morning start final period practice drying track late session allowed record best time ahead hamilton saturday afternoon qualifying session divided parts minute period cars finishing 16th lower eliminated second qualifying period lasted minutes end fastest cars went final period determine grid positions race cars failing final period allowed race competing carried fuel earlier qualifying sessions hamilton clinched fifth pole position season time ahead qualified second seconds rival mistake free run allowed place grid alongside fourth took fifth ahead setting quickest time session took ninth place ahead teammate toyota driver qualified 11th experienced problems generating heat tyres teammate experienced similar problems lined 13th took grid spots ahead pair believed performance cars force india driver williams driver took final positions race driver start softer compound dry weather tyres track drying morning rain brazilian opting harder tyre available strong chance showers predicted race cars slow away slippery track notably main line gained places hit corner quick start toyota suffered gearbox damage incident spinning later lap collided start allowed gain places locked brakes ran wide losing places collided lap pit fix broken wing hamilton led managed pass ferrari teammate straight second lap hamilton spun source lost lead straight lost places laps lack grip tyres lap attempted pass bus stop hit causing australian spin driver later dismissed contact racing accident given drive penalty took lap dropping 15th place lap mark opened second lead hamilton hamilton leaders pit lap followed lap later pitted lap lap teammate pitted lap maintained lead hamilton round pit stops followed retired lap spinning wall following race driver blamed damp patches track incident adding shame sure today lap retired gearbox problem suffering failing sixth gear engine runners continued order hamilton took second pit stops lap pitting lap lap lap pitted laps respectively following second round pit stops seconds ahead hamilton hamilton began close stint result tyres better heavy rain began fall lap hamilton closed gap second seconds ahead hamilton attempted pass bus stop cut corner consequently hamilton led allowed pass halfway straight hamilton passed source braking tried double hamilton regain position line defended resulting touching wing hamilton rear tyre rain started coming heavily spun corner rejoining causing hamilton run grass corner spun gave lead hamilton lost control ferrari corner collided barrier ending race hamilton finish race having driven car line wet conditions followed rose ninth position final laps superior grip intermediate tyres pit stop laps prior end race similarly benefited intermediate tyres finishing fourth eighth having passed final corner conversely drivers fourth lap pushed seventh fifth positions lack grip dry weather tyres post race handed second penalty overtaking yellow flags final lap race penalty pushed eighth ninth place hamilton appeared podium subsequent press conference winner position questioned incident press conference hamilton defended actions pushed point crashed escape route went escape route understood let past got tow diving left right managed inside hit apex corner think pretty gone hours race race issued statement announcing hamilton guilty article formula sporting regulations chapter article state cutting gaining advantage subject drive penalty race finished second penalty added hamilton time instead result penalty promoted winner hamilton dropped position september lodged official complaint incident appeal hearing september alleged twice advised race director hamilton correctly returned position furthermore presented evidence suggesting hamilton crossed finish line travelling slower time drive penalties appeal lawyer attempted convince court penalty form time added case valid presented previous case japanese grand prix specifically claim presiding chief steward race admitted fault awarding penalty denied allegation went use case precedent spa incident court stated analogy invalid case appeal contested september issued decision ruling appeal reaction formula drivers believed hamilton gained advantage said penalty rough end position pretty straightforward view reiterated fellow drivers believed hamilton got advantage cutting saying stayed road wouldn speed overtake ferrari way cut catch rival draft overtake braking world champion said understand completely wrong decision adding unbelievable best driver yesterday race makes mistakes gets points called formation permanent race instead temporary steward system currently place called worst judgement history saying absolutely unacceptable influence championship like time world champion said attracts largest capital investment sport overseen people time inconsistent decisions original penalty received mixed reactions world press britain daily_mirror said decision mars sport turns fans away ruins efforts best competitors day leaves fans wondering exactly fans finnish daily newspaper noted crushed championship dreams hamilton adhered rules racing giving position newspaper disappointment crash incident italy sport declared decision justified stating hamilton waited turn attacking soon incident subsequent court hearing led saying drivers wait corner cutting attempting overtaking manoeuvre formula driver director said issue lewis probably crack outside bus stop knowing option going asphalt think got going forward far away moment drivers know gain position gain advantage bit classification qualifying race hamilton given second penalty cutting gaining advantage losing place given second penalty overtaking yellow flags losing eighth place championship standings race bold text indicates theoretical chance
2008 Belgian Grand Prix