Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Weekend review and result round-up

The 2009 Formula 1 season has already packed a remarkable number of surprises into its first two thirds, but no one could have expected the bizarre change in the pecking order at Spa, as back of the grid regulars Giancarlo Fisichella and Force India burst into victory contention

But while an underdog impressed, the tribulations continued for the man who had the world at his feet in the opening rounds - with Jenson Button enduring a season-worst qualifying and a first lap exit. The only consolation was that most of his title rivals fared little better.

Force India's shock progress and the continuing speculation over Luca Badoer's future dominated much of the news agenda until a few hours after the race, when a bombshell emerged in the form of an FIA probe into the conspiracy theories regarding Nelson Piquet's crash in last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

While the F1 title battle changed little as other drivers hit the forefront at Spa, that was not the case in other championships around the world. Vitaly Petrov's disastrous weekend made a Nico Hulkenberg GP2 crown ever more likely, despite the German being harpooned at the start of Sunday's race.

In MotoGP, a crash for Valentino Rossi and a win for Jorge Lorenzo at Indianapolis threw the latter a lifeline and reopened a contest that had appeared to be all but resolved, while elsewhere in America Ryan Briscoe's win in a stunning Chicagoland IndyCar race made the Australian the first man all year to get a little breathing space in the epic three-way championship chase.

The F1 sessions

Trulli sets pace in rain-hit practice

Hamilton tops second practice at Spa

Heidfeld fastest in final Belgium practice

Fisichella takes shock pole at Spa

Raikkonen wins again as Fisichella stars

The F1 headlines

Fisichella dreaming of Ferrari drive

FOTA to meet with Vatanen, Todt

Theissen: BMW still evaluating offers

Red Bull calm on Vettel's engine limit

Trulli wants Toyota's future secured

Abu Dhabi confirms 5pm race start

Raikkonen not worried about F1 future

Teams set to discuss third car concept

Fisichella: The best moment of my life

Badoer: No regrets over Ferrari drive

Mercedes to sort engine plans by Monza

Vettel says title race is wide open

FIA to launch probe on '08 Singapore GP

Mallya 'very proud' of team performance

Ferrari to wait on Monza driver decision

The motorsport action

GP2: Parente scores Ocean's first win

GP2: Van der Garde wins sprint race at Spa

IndyCar: Briscoe wins thrilling Chicago race

BTCC: Jackson wins race one at Silverstone

BTCC: Plato holds off Giovanardi to win

BTCC: Jackson makes it two out of three

125cc: Espargaro scores maiden win at Indy

FIA GT: K plus K takes Hungaroring win

250cc: Simoncelli beats Aoyama at Indy

MotoGP: Lorenzo wins at Indy as rivals fall

ALMS: Highcroft takes dominant Mosport win

NASCAR Nationwide Series: Edwards snatches Montreal victory

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Belgium Sunday quotes: Ferrari
Next article Force India warns Spa was no one-off

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe