2014 Belgian Grand Prix F1: Top 10 Readers’ Results!

The twelfth Grand Prix of the season, in Spa, was therefore won by Daniel Ricciardo ahead of Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas. The rest of the top 10 included, in order, Kimi Räikkönen, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Pérez, Daniil Kvyat, and Nico Hülkenberg. Let’s see if the 131 voters followed the order of the race…

Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) – 25 points

Like in Canada and Hungary, the Australian’s victory is tinged with a certain opportunism, but also with a mastery that borders on perfection as he knows how to seize every opportunity to shine. His race unfolded ideally, both in the tire strategy adopted and in the events that caused his only dangerous rival – Nico Rosberg – to lose the necessary time to reach the top step of the podium in the lowland country.

2. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) – 18 points

New podium for No. 77, who took advantage of the favorable weather conditions that contrasted with those during the qualifying to make the most of his FW36’s full potential. Despite a challenging first stint, stuck behind slower drivers, Bottas eventually gained the upper hand in the pits and on the track.

3. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) – 15 points

On his favorite track, the Finn achieved his best result of the season, behind the wheel of an F14-T that seemed competitive and more to his liking. A shortened first stint allowed him to attempt and successfully execute an early undercut, which he managed afterwards, giving way at the end of the race to his compatriot who was faster on the straights.

4. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) – 12 points

Penalized by the battery problem that forced his mechanics to intervene on his car just seconds before the formation lap, the Spaniard wasn’t really able to salvage the situation, repeatedly encountering difficulties with Magnussen during the race, particularly at the end where the Dane’s maneuver and the contact with Vettel at La Source prevented the Asturian from defending his chances against Button.

5. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) – 10 points

« I didn’t have the pace ». This is undoubtedly the phrase that best summarizes the Grand Prix of the reigning four-time world champion. Despite a blazing start, during which, taking the advantage over Rosberg, he might even have considered leading the race at the Combes braking. A failed braking and 44 laps later, it was by securing the top 5 in the final laps that he finished the Belgian round.

6. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) – 8 points

A missed start, an obstructive collision, a troublesome debris, and a poorly-timed strategy, the championship leader’s race was anything but smooth. And yet, he finishes in second place, just a few seconds from victory, and most importantly, he extends his lead in the overall standings. A good outcome, even though the contact with his teammate and the boos on the podium won’t remain a great memory.

7. Jenson Button (McLaren) – 6 points

Qualified in 10th position, the Briton managed to climb up, at the end of a strategic race where his first two stints on soft tires lasted 13-14 laps each. He was nevertheless involved in several battles, including the last one with his teammate and Fernando Alonso, in which he overtook the Ferrari.

8. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 4 points

After an excellent start, the Briton’s race took a disastrous turn when, entering Les Combes, Nico Rosberg hit him, causing a puncture to his left-rear tire. Relegated to the back of the pack, Hamilton, whose W05 Hybrid was damaged, was never able to get back into the race for points and had to retire towards the end of the race, after about forty laps of agony.

9. Kevin Magnussen (McLaren) – 2 points

Solid in the race, especially against Alonso, and performing well, the young Dane had delivered a full Grand Prix until he forced the Ferrari driver, in the final laps of the race, to run onto the grass before the Combes braking zone. Logically penalized, he lost the benefit of his 6th position.

10. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) – 1 point

For the Russian, the race was relatively anonymous, as he was lost in the middle of the pack. Finishing between the two Force Indias is still a sign of a well-managed GP, which earns him points once again.

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