Formula One 2014 Belgian Grand Prix: Red Bull wins as Mercedes trips

The longest track in the current Formula 1 calendar, the Spa–Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, has been always a fan and driver favorite. Spectators from neighboring Germany, France and even the Netherlands have trooped over the border to catch the likes of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and even Kimi Raikkonen claim multiple wins on the fabled track.

Located in the Ardennes forest, Spa-Francorchamps with its ever-changing weather patterns, has always been a big challenge for all the teams in terms of setting up the car. It could well be dry down at Stavelot but raining at the Kemmel Straight. Or the clouds might just roll in and dump considerable rain mid-race.

Saturday qualifying saw wet conditions, and cars were slipping and sliding all over. For a while it seemed that the usual suspects would have difficulty moving past Q1, but, proving their mettle, Rosberg claimed pole with Hamilton standing alongside him. Vettel slotted up in 3rd, ahead of  Alonso, Ricciardo, and Bottas. Kevin Magnussen took 7th ahead of Kimi and Massa, while Jenson Button rounded up the top 10.

Even before the race start, drama already unfolded at the starting grid. The Ferrari of Alonso was still up on its jacks when the cars were given the go signal for the formation lap. As the Ferrari mechanics let the other cars pass, a visibly irritated Fernando was gesticulating frantically to get his car down so he can re-join the field. Having made his way up the order, and taking his original grid spot, pundits were mulling over what penalty the Spaniard could be slapped with. The stewards gave Alonso a 5-second stop-and-go penalty, which he could take on his scheduled pit stop during the race. Hamilton also had a few stress-filled moments, when he overshot his grid slot and had to put the car in reverse and line up properly prior to the start.

As the lights went out to start the race, Nico Rosberg was very slow off the blocks while Lewis rocketed off and took the lead going into the first corner. Sebastian Vettel also had a cracking start and was hounding Nico from the very start. Everyone got off clean but a slight nundge between the Marussia of Bianchi and another back marker caused a puncture and he had to pit for a change of tires.

Out in front Lewis was confidently leading the way.  But at the end of the Kemmel straight, Rosberg found himself sniffing at the fumes of the sister Mercedes W05 and decided that he just had to pass Lewis. Not seeing an opening, Nico placed his car near the rear of his teammate, and chose not to lift. This caused Nico’s right front wing to come in contact with the left rear tire of Lewis, causing a puncture and eventually ruining the race for Hamilton.

This gave additional stress to everyone on the pit wall, and up in the Mercedes HQ in Brackley. It is a cardinal rule to never take out one’s teammate—no exceptions.

Lewis limped around the circuit to pit for a change of tires, but the damage has already been done. The floor and aero kits of the Mercedes were badly damaged. This did not fare well with the Brit who was the main rival of Rosberg for the World Drivers Championship.

Tha clash between the two Merc drivers was the opening that the rest of the field were looking for. This allowed them a chance to knock down some points in both Constructors and Drivers championship.  Furthermore, the real start of  the hostilities between Lewis and Nico could well open up the championship fight which has long been thought as sewn up by Mercedes.

As the cars came in for their scheduled pit stops, one could sense that Hamilton was exasperated. The car was just difficult to drive, as there was no downforce according to a radio transmission from the Brit. He wanted to stop and save his engine.

The race heated up with the drivers dicing for the lead with one another, there were also missed braking points and corners being cut. While out in front, it was Daniel Ricciardo, silently passing people, and for most of the race leading the field. Kimi Raikkonen, who had failed to impress since the start of the season, was a fixture in the top spots, proving that he likes driving around Spa. The Finn kept his head down and even finished ahead of Fernando Alonso. Rosberg, who had to change the nose of his car, diligently went about getting back into the lead, but ran out of laps, eventually settling for the silver.

As the checkered flag fell, Daniel Ricciardo took his third win, Rosberg stood on second and Valtteri Bottas, who is making a habit of finsihing on the podium, took third to the delight of the Sir Frank Williams and the entire Williams Martini Racing Team.

As the silverware was handed out at the podium ceremonies, fans numbering in the thousands, booed Nico Rosberg for his driving tactics. Considering this was just a stones throw from the German border and most fans are of German lineage, it must have been mortifying for the German driver.

No one in the Mercedes camp had a clear cut answer to what happened between Nico and Lewis, but the team assured the FIA and the fans that they will conduct a thorough investigation and there will be consequences and punishment to be handed out.

Previous grands prix in Spa have been races of attrition. But for 2014, it is the Mercedes boys providing all the fireworks. This will not end well for the team from Brackley, and harmony in the garage and on track has now been officialy eroded. Getting everyone back on the same page falls on the shoulders of  Paddy Lowe and Toto Wolff. They need to rein in their drivers to make sure that they still come out as the 2014 champions. Otherwise, it could well be another Red Bull championship year.