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2013 Belgian Grand Prix The Belgian Grand Prix
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Sebastian Vettel claims an emphatic victory and tightens his vice-like grip on the 2013 championship.
The race was shaped on the run up the Kemmel straight on the first lap. Hamilton got a great start initially into the opening corners, but he was a sitting duck and Vettel blasted through on the run to Les Combes and he never looked back.
Alonso scored a fine second place, outracing Hamilton over the course of the event, while Rosberg, Webber and particularly Button scored good points. Ricciardo raced his way into the points with a great final stint, but questions will be asked about the incident between Gutierrez, Maldonado, Sutil and the innocent di Resta.
This was the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for your company over the last three days of action. We will be back in a fortnight as Formula 1 visits the cathedral of speed - Monza - for the Italian Grand Prix.
The race was shaped on the run up the Kemmel straight on the first lap. Hamilton got a great start initially into the opening corners, but he was a sitting duck and Vettel blasted through on the run to Les Combes and he never looked back.
Alonso scored a fine second place, outracing Hamilton over the course of the event, while Rosberg, Webber and particularly Button scored good points. Ricciardo raced his way into the points with a great final stint, but questions will be asked about the incident between Gutierrez, Maldonado, Sutil and the innocent di Resta.
This was the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for your company over the last three days of action. We will be back in a fortnight as Formula 1 visits the cathedral of speed - Monza - for the Italian Grand Prix.
Stick with AUTOSPORT for all the reaction to today's events at Spa.
McLaren benefits from Button's result, moving past Force India to take fifth place.
In the constructors', Red Bull continues to edge towards another title, with Mercedes and Ferrari still in a fight over best-of-the-rest.
Meanwhile, Vettel and Hamilton take the opportunity to sneak up and soak Coulthard in champagne while he is busy talking to Alonso.
Hamilton is now third in the points, a further 12 back from Alonso, with Raikkonen demoted to fourth after today's brake trouble.
Vettel improves his championship lead to 46 points over Alonso, who takes over second in the standings, helped by the Raikkonen's retirement.
David Coulthard is on hand to interview the podium drivers.
Manning joins the top three drivers for the traditional end-of-race photo for the photographers below the podium.
The champagne sprays on the podium and Vettel gives Hamilton a soaking before turning his angle of attack to the podium girls.
Hamilton smiles as he takes the third-place trophy, collecting solid points for his title campaign.
Alonso receives his award for second place. He raises the trophy aloft and waves to the fans and his team down below.
Red Bull trackside control engineer Michael Manning is on hand to collect the constructors' award.
Vettel is delighted as he collects the trophy for a dominant victory in Belgium.
That is followed by the Austrian national anthem for this afternoon's winning constructor - Red Bull.
The top three walk out onto the podium and the German national anthem plays out for today's winner - Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel wanders into the cool-down room and shares a joke with Lewis Hamilton as they discuss the day's events.
Three drivers retired from today's race:
Di Resta was an innocent victim of the intense battle between Maldonado and Gutierrez. Kimi Raikkonen retired with brake failure and Charles Pic was retired by the team very early in the going.
Di Resta was an innocent victim of the intense battle between Maldonado and Gutierrez. Kimi Raikkonen retired with brake failure and Charles Pic was retired by the team very early in the going.
Bianchi ended the race in 18th spot, ahead of Marussia team-mate Chilton.
Maldonado made a move on van der Garde on the last lap but failed in his attempt, so the Caterham driver finishes 16th, Maldonado 17th.
Out of the points, Perez finishes 11th with Vergne 12th, Hulkenberg 13th, Gutierrez 14th and Bottas 15th for Williams.
Massa comes home in seventh spot with Grosjean eighth, Sutil ninth and Ricciardo claims the final point in 10th place.
It's a strong drive for Button to take sixth in his McLaren.
Rosberg holds on to fourth in his Mercedes, keeping Webber's Red Bull in fifth at the flag.
Hamilton takes the final podium place but didn't have the speed to challenge for the win today.
Alonso limits the damage with a typically determined drive up to second place from a lowly ninth on the grid.
A commanding performance from the world champion, who was never challenged after grabbing the lead on the first lap.
Checkered flag
Sebastian Vettel wins the Belgian Grand Prix!
Lap 44: Maldonado is 17th after his penalty and one second behind van der Garde. Likely to be a pass for 16th before the end.
Lap 44: Nothing brewing in the top six and this looks to be the finishing order, with the rain just holding off.
Lap 43: Vettel turns for home and needs just one more tour to clinch victory this afternoon.
Lap 43: Vettel is now two laps away from a crushing victory at Spa.
Lap 42: Gutierrez comes in and that is to serve his drive-through penalty. He rejoins.
Lap 42: Webber is not making a major impression on Rosberg now and that battle also looks settled for the moment.
Lap 42: Vettel is now a massive 16.1 seconds in the lead as he is cautioned on his speed by the Red Bull pitwall.
Lap 41: Ricciardo sweeps to the outside and takes Perez halfway down the Kemmel straight. The Australian is into 10th.
Lap 41: But there could be a battle for the final point yet. Ricciardo has caught up to the back of Perez, as he continues his midfield charge.
Lap 41: So Massa takes over seventh spot with Grosjean eighth, Sutil ninth and Perez holding onto the final point in 10th.
Lap 41: Vettel reminds everyone of his speed today with a new fastest lap of 1m50.756s.
Lap 40: While on-track, Massa cruises up to the back of Grosjean's Lotus and he breezes past the Frenchman approaching Les Combes. Good move.
By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton
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