The Belgian Grand Prix Formula 1

Previously. This season is under way! Lewis Hamilton wins! Fernando

Alonso wins. Lewis Hamilton it never want to give up.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 142 seconds

We have become rather familiar with that look. And after a few thousand

miles, 11 races, four winners, only one Championship leader. From the

start, that man has been Sebastian Vettel. For the first time can he

win at Spa and conquer one of the most famous circuits in Formula

One? Two men here who know how it feels to be on the top step at Spa.

David, a you won the big homes, Silverstone, Monaco, where does

this rank in your list of achievements? He has dominated from

the beginning and David Coulthard wins in Belgium!

No question, places so historic and I am extremely proud to have one

here. It is an incredible race track and that is one When I am

most proud. Mack it was not just a win, it was dominant, which is

special for you guys. Mainly because McLaren were so dominant

that year. I had to beat me to Hakkinen and we had a hostel at the

first corner and I went. Talking at famous circuits like this, if we

look at the calendar, we are going to Delhi for the first time,

Singapore, is there still a place left for these famous bald circuits

where the infrastructure is not as -- is not the same as the new

places? I and the other extreme, I say there must be a place -- I am.

I am an advocate for the French Grand Prix, because this is where

the historic moment started and without this foundation, we would

not have as strong as -- a Formula One. There is no benchmark if we

are only racing in places like Delhi and Singapore. It is

important to have historic places, these modern places will become

historic, but things like Spa and Silverstone, you have to have them

on the calendar, they are great. is a great play, the fans turn up

in their thousands because they will know -- because they know they

will get entertainment. There is something here that none of the

teams can control, the weather. My advice, if you are planning a trip

As you can see, the drivers are ready for what could be a wet day.

It is not raining now but do not trust it, it could rain any second.

It makes it difficult for teams, over the practice sessions, we had

15 minutes of dry weather so there are plenty of one known ofs. One of

the important things is to get information on the tyres. This

strike is over seven kilometres. They do not know how far these

tyres can go and so they have qualified and the journey into the

unknown will begin in 50 minutes. We will see the qualifying report

in a minute and it is very easy to get things wrong working out his

strategy with the weather, how easy is it, you have been there? He

might be the Championship leader, but I do not want to be run down!

It is always difficult because you can second-guess. You never know.

You look at the cloud and think you can get it right, you can never get

it right here. The other extreme is pit dried out quick but because the

circuit is so big and undulating, it tries in one sector and not the

other. How do you cope with the tyre selection? This is a complete

fools paradise. You never know way you will get and also have to be

lucky. These cars have done well to get to the end with their front

wings attached because all sorts of things were going on, it is truly

mad when it is wet here. Plenty of the guys telling Ding Sebastian

Vettel would like rain because it throws in a variable. -- plenty of

the guys here. Sebastian Vettel does not need to win another race

to be champion, look how far ahead I imagine it is unusual David

Coulthard and Martin are no longer driving a Grand Prix car, but

yesterday they were in a dry commentary box and the circuit was

not that. This is Lee McKenzie. And rain or shine, Spa always

throws up surprises, but nobody expected quite as early a shock. As

he left the pit lane, Michael Schumacher lost a wheel, he had no

control and smashed into the barriers. There is no reason to

blame anybody, we all try it our best. And Paul de West Star was

left as a spectator, and not very happy. -- Paul di Resta. I was told,

we hate to tell you this, but somebody is quicker. I am not of --

I am not aware of the situation around me, I do as I am told.

Adrian Sutil made Inc -- made a mistake, debris on the track saw

the red flag, out but with over six minutes on the clock, there was

everything to play for. Jenson Button got his timing is wrong and

was the next big name to fall. misunderstanding. I did my first

lap and I did not know I have no more laps left, massively

disappointing. There was an incident between of Lewis Hamilton

and Pastor Maldonado resulting in boat heading to the stewards with

their own version of what happened. From what I saw, it was quite

dangerous and I have never had that experience since I have been

raining -- racing. But I am not here to look at the footage, I do

not know if it was just an accident. Lewis said that you swiped across

the front of him, do you agree? do not. For the stewards gave

Pastor Maldonado a five place grid penalty and reprimanded at Lewis

Hamilton who managed to put his damaged car into second place on

the grid. Fernando Alonso only came eight behind Bruno Senna in his

Renault. Death ath. I am really happy, for expected to get in the

top 10 and the wet conditions helped, I did a lap faster than I

did when the conditions were drier. Another driver who could not stop

smiling was Jaime Alguersuari who qualified in sixth place. I am

happy for my team, it is a good opportunity for tomorrow to take a

lot of points and to keep fighting in the Championship. The track

dried as quickly as the cars went round and pole position was traded

between the usual suspects. Mark Webber was kept of the from road by

Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Sebastian Vettel got his 9th pole

position of the season. I am very pleased because the years before, I

messed up and I was not really happy after qualifying. But today,

Ballack came together well and no mistakes and everything was right.

-- the lap came together. Sebastian Vettel takes the top spot,

Lewis Hamilton alongside and Webber third looking for his first win the

Year. Acre we are best for Jaime Alguersuari in sixth place. And

Sergio Perez has never started so high in ninth place, with Vitaly

Petrov in tenth place. Jenson Button will hope for rain as he

starts in 13th place with Rubens Barrichello alongside. The five

place penalty for Pastor Maldonado means he is tall -- he is in 21st

place. And for his anniversary, Michael Schumacher props up the

grid. Serious disappointment for the

likes of Michael Schumacher and Pastor Maldonado, but this man is

smiling because he starts in sixth place on the grid, his best

qualifying since he started. Where did it all go right for you

yesterday? We did a good job since Friday because we went out in

extreme conditions. We have always been fast and show good potential.

The car has improved since Hungary because we brought update here. It

looks like we are getting there, the team, myself, everything is

getting better. We are understanding the tyres better and

the Championship. I would say that we are better than what it was

before. I should question you, you started the season so badly and

were threatened with the sack, did that make the difference firing you

up? Not really. I always had confidence in what I could do and

the team. I knew it would be a difficult Championship because

everything changes in Formula One. I learnt almost nothing to what it

was this year because everything was new for me and we changed so

many things from the set up, the mechanical set up of the car, and

everything changed since Valencia and Monaco. And it started to come

well. You need to adapt to the tyres because the potential... It

is just a matter are getting the tyres together in a consistent way

and to have won the pit stop less than the others. Whatever it is,

you scored points in four of the last five races so congratulations

and good luck today. So he starts in sixth place on the grid but

alongside him is a man who did not think he was driving until

Wednesday, Bruno Senna. He is with David.

Your best start in Formula One, a lot of people were talking, did you

deserve this opportunity because it was difficult to judge where you

were last year, but this is the best way to answer those critics?

Yes, the best way to answer criticism is to perform. And in two

years I did not have the opportunity to show what I could do.

And then we got to last year with the car that was not competitive.

So it was a good experience but now I am getting the chance to go in a

car that can be in the top 10 and fortunately on my first attempt, I

got into seventh place and hopefully this will continue. Today

will be a tough race, I have been driving in dry conditions with high

fuel but a learning curve is steep and I tried to learn as fast as

You must be setting your sights to aim for points, what is your

realistic sight. It is hard to say, I have had a good performance in

the wet, so the dry performance is unknown. Some people are struggling

with the tyres. Maybe our strategy can come to us. If I get points

today, it will be a dream come true. Good luck. Thank you, it is so nice

to be here just as the drivers are making their way up to the cars.

Yesterday there was also a bit of negativey during qualifying,

involving Lewis Hamilton and Pastor Maldonado. These two have already

become acquainted on the track this year. This is what happened in

Monaco when Pastor Maldonado was on for his first points finish and

Lewis give him a nudge and Pastor Maldonado didn't score points. This

Maldonado didn't score points. This is yesterday, Lewis nicked past him

and after this, they went around the hairpin after the checkered

flag has dropped and somehow had a coming together. We can see it from

Lewis Hamilton's onboard. The stewards didn't like it. And Lewis

gets a reprimand, Pastor Maldonado a five place grid penalty. What do

clarn and Williams make of it? Let's find out. Your reaction?

I said the penalty. I think I was, it was a difficult moment for

everybody. It was not on purpose. Maybe a mistake. Lewis was found

guilty of cause - o' causing the collision as well, but he doesn't

gate penalty. I don't know why. Both drivers were involved. If that

is the decision, we compete and that is it. Five place penalty for

Pastor Maldonado, nothing for Lewis, but he was guilty of causing an

accident. Do you think that is fair? Well I don't believe he was

guilty of causing an accident. So I believe to have not received a

penalty that affected this race was fair. On the o' other issue of

Pastor Maldonado that is for the stewards to decide. Relief at

McLaren. You were clear and said at the time Pastor Maldonado should be

banned. Having seen it a few times, do you stand by that? Well maybe

banned was extreme, he has been lucky to get off with only a five-

place grid drop. There is no question that it was an accident.

It was a deliberate action to flex muscles. It takes two cars to tango,

but he has been lucky. You can be vicious when you want to be. We

know that Nigel Mansell is the representative. What will he have

said from a drivers' point of view to the stewards? First, they would

have looked at everything and have seen the on board stuff and seen

every angle. You are looking at it here. The situation for me is the

checkered flag has come out. They're no longer racing, but

they're on the track. There is an obligation to be correct, this

looks on this angle to be a bad move. However I think the judges

may have looked back and thought about Monaco and about the way

Lewis squeezed him on the hairpin. You don't know. But they came up

with a set of rules and the paddock feels it was fair. And they will

probably be nowhere near each other, Lewis is second on the grid and

Pastor Maldonado is 21st. But for Sebastian Vettel a perfect Saturday

for him. Nine pole positions, six wins, 234 points. Can anybody catch

Sebastian Vettel? We keep on working. We do our thing. We're who

we're. Thank you. The first half of the season was simple for Sebastian

Vettel. Turn up, qualify on pole. Win the race. Go home. But just as

there was a risk of it getting boring, Vettel started losing. To

Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton. And Jenson Button. The reason? Red

Bull went the wrong way on the car's development, while others

have caught up. Is the car back to where you want it to be after a

couple of race, where it has bt been? -- it hasn't been? We will

see, I think we have learned from previous praises. Understood, we

think that we have understood a lot. So we'll see this weekend how much.

The chasing pack are all very difficult characters, and have

their own strengths and weaknesses. Fernando Alonso, the bull fighter.

Lewis Hamilton quick but impel youous. But what about the struged

Australia ran? -- the rugged Australia Mark Webber? Fernando

Alonso if their car is quick, they have a chance. Lewis is an attacker,

very entertaining as well. I think that is why the public you know

love watching him. Jenson Button on the other hand is, he is thinking a

lot more about what is going on during the race and you can see

that on occasions come through. It is a long race on a Sunday

afternoon and Jenson Button is better at remembering that. Who is

best equipped to give vettal a hard time -- Sebastian Vettel a hard

time for the Championship? I think Fernando Alonso is probably the

strongest. I think he is the one who can give Vettel the hardest

time. Sebastian Vettel's last race retirement was in Korea last season

and it is rare to go through a whole year without a car break down.

So while McLaren and Ferrari can only hope for that to happen to

Vettel, their best chance of catching him is to overtake the Red

Bull on pure speed. Here at Spa, McLaren believe they have the

fastest car. If you're quick here, you will be quick in Monday za.

Then we are down to races that are -- quick in Monza, then we are down

to high down force races. Hopefully we can can have a good fight.

last five races, we have won three. So we're there, or thereabouts. We

have a very good shot. I think the others will be working as hard as

us. But it will be a close battle for sure. Even though Sebastian

Vettel has a comfortable lead, talk of a mid season slump bothers him.

Even in the celebration moment of a pole position at Spa. He has a

message for doubters. Tofrpblgts confirm pole position. --

confirm pole position. Oh yes, oh yes! That's the answer! Looking at

the score board, Lewis, Fernando and Jensen, we saw last race, all

will be pushing hard to win races in the rest of the season and try

to you know get our spot in the charp ship -- Championship. JAKE

HUMPHREY: The famous finger there. He was great yesterday in

qualifying a second ahid of his team mate, for Webb it is the most

difficult, if the car is working well for Mark, it is the same for

Seb. Yes and Mark looked like he had the upper hand on Friday. All

the way through Saturday morning and all the way through qualifying,

until that last lap. It is the nature of the lap times and the

track drying up. There is a huge sprid, but Seb pulled it out.

last thing we want is difficult qualifying session for Fernando, he

is eighth on the grid, the last thing we want and the current world

champ yon, is for Seb to not win another race, but still take the

title. He can pull back and drive at 0%. Well he answered that

yesterday. -- at 80%. The evidence from yesterday, that was an

electrifying lap. I was enthralled. Because I didn't think he was going

to get it. He kept there, last lap, getting the, you know the great

thing about Spa, you must be on the track when it is at its quickest

and he was so he was technically brilliant. Today strategy in the

race could be crucial. There noise rain at the moment. But you only

have to look up to see the sky is covered in a blanket of cloud and

we have less than half an hour until the case O' -- to the race.

And the teams will have to have the tyres ready. On a dry track the

untreaded slick tyre is the king of grip. As the maximum area of rubber

bites into the surface. But they're fair weather friends. A road tyre

only has grooves to clear the water. It is the rub hear the generates

the grip. But a slick tyre can only push the rain aside and it will

aquaplane on the surface of the water, instead of the track. In

these conditions, the rubber cools and suddenly it is like driving on

ice. There are two alternatives to solve this problem. The blue

marketed intermediate tyres bridge the gap between wet and dry and the

shallow grooves clear the rain at speed and surviving until it is

nearly dry. The tread of the full tyre will tackle heavy rain,

clearing up to 60 litres a second. But like a fish, they need water to

survive. Given the brutal energy of a Formula One car. I'm going to do

something crazy and run a wet tyre on a dry track. Just to show you

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 142 seconds

there is no way you can carry a set significant and tyre choice can

make or break a race. So difficult to make a judgment call now. What

are they putting on? Intermediates. If you're five or six seconds

faster for four laps, you may as well be out on these tyres and you

will win a pit stop. It is drying up. They have given up on him. That

has cost him the race. Be on the right tyres at the right time. JAKE

HUMPHREY: That is more difficult than it sounds. One man hoping to

use the weather and the tyres to get through is Michael Schumacher.

He did it here in 1995, went from 16th to win. Just one of the 91

wins he enjoyed in 20 years in Formula One. It is a huge

celebration this weekend for Michael at this race. It was here

in Spa 20 years ago that Eddie Jordan gave him his great moment.

Here he was celebrating. We send him our congratulation and he has

been going back to where it all began, sitting in a go cart! Racing

has many meanings to me. One is the competition, man-to-man. One is the

competition against yourself. It is the fighting spirit, always to

search for the improvement. Always to go faster, always to go better.

I needed a driver. When he came and tested a car on that Tuesday

afternoon at Silverstone, the team were staggered and they rang me up

and said, this is guy is either amazing or there is something they

have changed on the track to make it shorter. I asked him, had he

been to to Spa before. He said yes. I thraulgt that was a fib. What I

went had you raced at Spa and the answer would have been no. Had he

answered the question the way I felt he should have, he wouldn't

have got the drive. I didn't know the track. I thought in TV it all

looked different. Because when you see the cars go through Eau Rouge,

you don't think it this a steep. Going on a bike you think what was

that. It was difficult, but it was so much joy and fascination to do

this, to feel the car, you are just on the edge and balancing on a

ended on the first lap. We were team-mates in 1992 and he turned up

with a level of fitness we were not used to, he could drive every

corner flat out and we had to raise again. He won his first race that

year at Spa. 23, Michael Schumacher the youngest winner for a long

time! It was unbelievable and I had to thank for team. He had a

confidence and fitness and speed that as a combination soon became

unbeatable. He was the first drivers -- driver to take fitness

levels to such a degree that driving a car in a Formula One race

was not a consideration. I could have a conversation in a race and

you would just not believe he was driving in a Grand Prix. My car

Schumacher, World Champion! And a brilliant race for Michael

Schumacher! The World Championship, at giving Ferrari and Italy veg

Reena! Them most outstanding titles to me is that. Five years of blood,

sweat and tears and he has got that reward! What was special was the

tough years we had before that. is going through! Out goes Michael

Schumacher! That did not work, Michael! My go Schumacher in his

prime I believe we do pretty much anything to win a Grand Prix

Michael Schumacher. Out goes Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill

has to retire, Michael Schumacher will be World Champion.

struggled to draw the line and could not understand criticism.

When he ran into the side of the Jacques Villeneuve and took Damon

Hill off in Adelaide for example. would do things differently. After

24 years in Formula One are, you have a few regrets -- I would do.

Maybe I should regret to go for an attack on David after he spoilt my

race in Spa again, actually! Michael Schumacher is out! He is

going to have it out with David Coulthard! Thankfully, at a couple

of big guys from McLaren stepped into separators so I did not have

to unleash my ninja warriors style on Michael! In life you have to

make mistakes to learn from them and the most important thing is to

do that. Michael Schumacher starts 16th on the bread and superbly wins

the Belgian Grand Prix! -- on the grid! Fire no way I can say aye can

one have a very prestigious number seven Championship here in Spa --

finally. In my career, he is a reference point, the best driver I

have ever seen. Michael Schumacher, and still believe will be

remembered as the greatest driver in history of Formula One -- I

still believe. Everybody has his own opinion about any person. I

think I just want to be treated fairly, that is the only thing that

I look for and to likes Me All loves me I am happy about, who does

not I understand me -- I understand because she cannot be loved by

everybody. -- and he likes me all who loves me.

And what a wonderful career for this man, 20 years, 91 winners, and

Michael Schumacher in his forties making his way out of the garage to

prepare for today's Grand Prix. And we have a real Michael Schumacher

fan here. I always knew it! Is your true hero, -- is he your true hero,

David? Is there a golden dragon on the back? This is Eddie Jordan's

style! I am disappointed he did not put one on his chin, it might have

straightened it up a bit! Michael in his press conference yesterday,

he stars and 24th place today, he said, I have experience and Spa

driving on three wheels so he will never forget the fact you created

that problem here. And Eddie might be can tell -- might be compelled

to tell us about that when! Sir Martin is on the grid, how is it?

It is wonderful and welcome to the most important 200 metres of. In

the world for the next 20 metres. We are back in 13th place. Looking

here at Jenson Button talking to his engineer having done his long

reconnaissance lap to get to the grid here. And we will hang around

and get a word from Jenson, disappointed with that

misunderstanding in qualifying where he had -- where he thought he

had another lap but he did not have the time or the fuel and had to

abandon the lap, but he had to stay hard on the throttle pedal. And the

penalty he has got. If he looks at the people on the grid, incredible,

hundreds here to work and hundreds more to profile and to soak up the

energy and try to understand what it feels like down here. And it is

pretty electric as it always is at Spa. Jenson, behind you is the

podium, can you see it, is it enticing? Very. We had a very

frustrating day yesterday, the place has been great all weekend.

When you are in 13th place and you have a good car and good pace, it

is not so bad, we can still have a good race. At least you can have

brand new tyres. And the story of today is blistered tyres, what is

your understanding? The poor were getting blisters in qualifying so

it is a problem -- people were getting. It is a problem with the

dirty track, at the tyres get too hot and I think it is from sliding

more than anything else. It should be better today but it is unknown

from here. Can you not maybe go more Conservative? They have done

four laps on their tyres, the top 10. That is great and we need that.

But I do not know if they have been allowed to change them.

understanding is they have not and Ferrari and others were upset, they

said, you have too much clean-up on the front wheel and that is your

problem. It is their problem. It is not the best position but we have a

good car and will have a lot of fun today. We look forward to it. And

at the front, Kamui Kobayashi is getting out. They are like jockeys,

these drivers, they are so small. Apart from people like Mark Webber.

Two Toro Rossos in the top 11. They can run any tyre they want to start

the Grand Prix but the top 10 are committed to running for tyres they

set their fastest lap on. We have Vitaly Petrov here. A quick word?

How was the track on a reconnaissance lap? It looks very

good at everything. We are confident but we expect the rain

about one away after the start of the race so it will be interesting.

Others think it will not rain. is coming next March that sounds

very confident, see you later. rain is coming, that is the first

time I have heard that and I have been asking around. Sergio Perez

has done extremely well. And we are getting in the way of tyres that

they used to come to the grid in case they get a puncture so they

are not risking a set for the race. And let's see if Sergio Perez is

around. I do not think he is. Rubens Barrichello, it is a long

walk from their! If you do not come to interview me, it is a long walk

for you! I will try to do better next time. What is happening? A

difficult weekend, any light at the end of the tunnel? Yesterday was a

lovely time to perform better. But there is a limitation for the part

on the dry and we have to work for -- wait for better weather.

stay out of trouble in turn one. Absolutely, you know that! Fernando

Alonso in eighth place and he is not talking to media this weekend,

I was strictly informed. We can look at his beautiful Ferrari. And

he has a busy time ahead of him. But it does seem, as he heads off

to the grid, a quick word, Fernando? I already knew the answer

to that! And so they are talking... Because it is difficult to warm up

the tyres in qualifying, it gives them an advantage if the tyres are

under pressure so they are saying, a you are not changing your tyres

because we have a car that can handle the situation. And Eric

Clapton, let's have a word with him. How are you? You are looking well!

Good to see you, we have not seen you for ages. I am working too much

at the moment. Have you watched a bit this year, what do you reckon?

I have watched every race. You like that rain, I do not like it. I

cannot stand for all that indecision, the tyres and all this,

it is a nightmare. You are a proper petrolhead, what do you think of

this gear wing and this DRS? It is all in here, isn't it? All the

boxes on the floor with the Qatar, it doesn't matter, it is in here,

isn't it? You know that. Are you are absolutely right, I have only a

minute left, I have to move on. He is a legend, Eric Clapton! We spoke

to Jaime Alguersuari before so we will keep going past. Nico Rosberg,

in the Mercedes in the top 10. Michael at the back of the field. I

want to get a feel for, let me show you if I can, if there is a we all

like this Ferrari of Felipe Massa who has a qualified his team-mate

for the second time this year. When you lean the top of the wheel

towards the chassis, that generate extra grip and they have 4.5

degrees allowed. There is talk some things have gone beyond what

Pirelli is recommending and that... As the car goes through the corner,

it tracks the tyre and overheat the inside shoulder and gets blisters

and Pirelli are very nervous about that. And it is on that almost all

the front-running cars. So that is a concern. They say, if you want to

change it can make you have to start from the pit lane, we will

not let you change the tyres or change and it is all about leaning

back front tyre. It warms up your tyres better in qualifying

especially on a damp track. We have a three-way engineer discussion and

it is quite unusual. 14 minutes before the race and we have heavy,

heavy conversations going on stale. And I am hearing that Christiane

horny -- Christian Horner, and want to understand a final decision on

these tyres. -- I want to. Sorry, can I just interrupt? Can we have a

definitive answer on whether you have been a land to change these

tyres? We have not been allowed and so are starting with the tyres we

qualified on yesterday's. With so little dry mileage, it gives the

tyres a hard time. Most of the guys near the front, at we are going to

have to keep a close eye on it. a scale of 10, how will read are

you described tales -- these front tyres might let you down? We have

spoken to the guys at Aurelio and we are happy or they would not be

on the car. It is the same for everybody but one session was dry

yesterday so that was the only chance we got to look at the tyres.

Back to you. Interesting decision-making process

by Eric Clapton, he does not like wet races so he chooses to come to

Spa or! The big discussion was the blistering on these front tyres and

we saw an in-depth conversation with Mark Webber. This is yesterday

after qualifying and the information we have got is that the

camber of the car is be on the specified limits Upper Arley and

both front tyres are blistered for Sebastian Vettel. Christian Horner

said, we are not too concerned about this. But if we look at a

conversation Sebastian Vettel was having before the race, he is

talking to a Bolelli representative and looks not particularly happy. -

- a pair rarely representative. And Mario not smiling, so how affected

could read all be by this situation? That is as animated as

Sebastian Vettel will get, that body language is severe and he is

telling him what he thinks. This gives you another side of what

racing drivers are like. There is an aggression and arrogance inside.

But he qualified and load -- on those tyres and the rule is he must

run on them. He blistered them, nobody else, and he got the benefit.

How can you go back and get another set of tyres because something

before they were worried about the tyres. If they were blistered, it

didn't affect Sebastian Vettel. Here is the pole lap. Sebastian

Vettel is on pole position. And this is one very brave lap. Let's

enjoy it together. 170mph down the pit straight, towards the La Source

hairpin. You can see there is still water on the track. They have been

going through qualifying on a drying track. This is the first

time on slick tyres, down to Eau Rouge at 180mph. Barely a hint of

lift on the throttle. Over 200 MP, spray coming off the left front

tyre as he heads to the braking zone for Les Combs. That turn taken

at 100mph. Very confident on the curves. Rivage corner, 80mph. The

front reluctant to go through. Picks up the throttle nicely. The

corn we are no name, a tricky off camber down towards Pouhon. You

turn at 18mph, like threading the eye of a needle trying to keep the

car on the track. Then the chicane at 120mph. Total confidence to nail

the throttle pedal, flick left for the next turn. Now let the cargo,

full throttle through second part as he keeps the car on the dry part

of the track. There is a long left hander, he has the DRS wide-open

and still confident enough to go on the curve. That ends a tricky and

difficult final chicane. Just 65mph. A short run to the checkered flag.

The 4th pole position for Sebastian Vettel and that was -- 24th pole

position for Sebastian Vettel and that was very well earned. JAKE

HUMPHREY: What a guy, what a lap. It would be good to discuss how he

is always the last man over the line. His aim would be to run and

hide, get out of the one second zone where drivers can open their

DRS and overtake. The zone starts at Raidillon and people think we

could have a turkey -- Turkey situation where it is too easy to

overtake. He has an advantage. It is a short run-up to the first

corner. The pole position is at its best. Don't see anyone touching him.

Thiss what is happening -- this is what is happening on the grid. Here

is Paul di Resta. I know you didn't qualify where you wanted to, what

can you do from that position? Hopefully here our can is strong.

It has been strong in the wet or dry. It was an unfortunate day for

both cars. I believe we can move forward. The unknown is how long

tyre will last, given we have only got five laps worth of data.

will this pan out, last time Lewis Hamilton was signature second and

won. Can he do it again? Of course he can. The weather could have a

huge effect. But I have a suspicion this will be a dry race and I would

watch out for Fernando Alonso. I didn't think say he would win, but

watch out for him. Keep your eyes on the start. And of course we're

also live on BBC1 HDF you miss anything, you can find it on the

iPlayer. But I suggest you go no wr. With Martin Brundle is David

Coulthard. They're gearing up for a race that always deliver it is time

for the 2011 Spa Grand Prix live from this place, Spa-Francorchamps.

It is the most impressive track that we have around. Long, quick,

wet... It is massively fast. like being on the edge. You make a

mistake, you're going to hurt yourself. They go through Eau Rouge

flat out. There is always that challenge whether you're good

enough. I can't wait to get on it. MARTIN BRUNDLE: It is round 12 of

19 in this year's Formula One. The 44th Grand Prix here at the Spa

circuit in Belgium and it is a 44 lap race. Rain has played a key

part and qualifying was a thriller. And gave us a very interesting grid

to say the least. Driving on the track was challenging at the end,

but we saw some sensational efforts and bravery too as they committed

to 180mph corners when the track was still damp. The three sectors

that we will watch through the Grand Prix. 23 degree out there.

Not much humidity at the moment. Of course, we heard from Vitaly Petrov

on the grid, he is convinced there will be rain within the hour. Cloud

is bubbling up as we often see hee. But at the moment although it did

spit a bit of rain while I was on the grid. So there is moisture on

the air, but nothing to challenge the drivers at this time. So a

fascinating grid line up. What can Michael Schumacher do from 24th and

last on the grid after losing that wheel in qualifying? Jenson Button

and Paul di Resta also out of position after their communication

problems. But David, tyres had dominated the paddock conversation

this morning haven't they? And how would you feel there there was --

if there was talk of blistering front tyres? I would be nervous. I

am used to talking about blistering rear tyres. That is what we saw

during the tyre war between Michelin and bridge ston. You could

run around with blisters on your tyre. Provide it didn't delaminate,

it was safe. But front tyre blistering, I don't recall

experiencing that. I don't if you did. Only on qualifying tyres.

Eau Rouge, Blanchmont, Pouhon, this is not the track to commit your

front axle to the turn. I would be nervous. It is as if the tyres have

been dragged across the track and overheating. And the rears, yes,

you putting 750 horsepower through the rear tyres, blistering is not

unusual. If you're committing to Eau Rouge at 185mph and chunking

bits of rubber off, it will be nerve racking. That is a point.

They have not experienced this. No one has seen the front blistering

so far. So we don't know what to expect. The fact that all the cars

have taken their grid slots, then this is going to be a journey into

the unknown. What is Lewis Hamilton doing with his left hand? Taking

some air? Cooling it and giving him a nice cool down. I wouldn't

thought he would need too much o' that with an air temperature of 16

degrees. Maybe he is a bit... always muggy in four layers of

this race. Adrian Sutil crashed the car yesterday. Paul di Resta came

in listen they told him to, but shouldn't have. Naughty boy, Pastor

Maldonado in 21st with that penalty. Michael Schumacher... Right at the

back of the field. Some were saying, do you think he will start from the

pit lane. I can't see any point. He doesn't need, it won't help him

with fresh tyres. He will be guaranteed to be last in the first

corner. So will it just help him stay out of trouble? RADIO:

Obviously a bit of braking at turn one. Give your brakes a good wallop

on the first lap. A nice reminder. They will have a light in the

cockpit to tell him he is above a threshold where his brakes are at

the correct temperature. There is nothing wrong with Bruno Senna's

car, it is the bite point find that he was doing. But that is a good

point he engineer made, it is a light brake into turn one and then

you will be at 90 % throttle into Les Combs. Then you will need your

brakes. But it is a light braking into Les Combs, I wouldn't be as

concerned as if he was making his debut at Monza, where you go

through the first chicane and go around into the second chicane and

find your brake temperature is below 500 degrees. Talking to

Jenson Button, I said I thought he may try something different. He is

on hard tyres. As is Michael Schumacher. RADIO: Everyone on hot

tyres. Michael is on option. That is not the information we have. It

is the harder tyres, it is the medium,pound marked in white.

Michael trying to find out what the opposition has. I'm getting told

that Jenson Button is also on the same tyres. So we will have to wait

and see if that is correct. But everyone else on the softer tyre.

Of course Sebastian Vettel is, because he has got to start the

race on the tyres he set his fastest lap on. Is that a sign,

that is what the blistering looks like. You can cannot tell if that

is pick up on the front left. But once they're running at speed, look

at that front left, you see it is unloading. It is probably pick up.

The confirmation I'm getting is that not what they told Michael

Schumacher that, Jenson Button is definitely on the white marked

medium compound tyre, the slower of the two tyres. So he should be able

to g further. One thing on the blistering, the fact they have had

the chance to put the tyres through a heat cycle. Jenson Button has

decided not to take any risks on that option tyre from new. He could

have run a scrub set. But that will affect his overall lap time, but

may allow him to go further in his race strategy -- strategy. It may

cost him a metre or two off the grid. Butless bargaining that the

McLaren start system will cover any deficiency in the tyres. A long

formation lap. Anything you do differently to prepare for the

start? It gives you more time the get heat into the brakes. You must

get as much heat in the carbon heat that. Radiates out to the wheel and

warms up the tyres and maintains your tyre precious. What are you

expecting as this race unfolds? stops is the faster option, but I

think that we will see most of top ten go for three stops. They have

done four or five tracks in the tyres. So with Pirelli saying you

can only get ten laps to 15 laps out of options, they are already

well into that. Plenty of burn oupts going on. They have put on a

different engine mapping to spin the rear wheels up and get maximum

attempt into the rear tyres and ready to launch their 640 kilogram

car, plus fuel, towards and we have a lot of smoke. It is the Mercedes.

The drivers have made their way through. It is narrow and short,

five lights and then the La Source hairpin awaits. It is under way.

Sebastian Vettel gets away, Rosberg flying, Mark Webber didn't get

going and Massa is in second place. Sebastian Vettel goes wide, contact

behind and that is a Toro Rosso there, the two Lotuss got together.

The second Ferrari of lance -- Fernando Alonso coming back.

Ferrari into fourth. Sebastian Vettel leads from the very fast

starting Nico Rosberg and then it is Lewis Hamilton. A lot of contact

at the first corner. We will need to see the replay. We have that is

Rosberg outside Vettel into turn one. Nico Rosberg takes the lead in

the Grand Prix with tremendous straight line speed. What bravery

from him on the first few corners. Look at the lead he is pulling out.

Jenson Button is up to 12th. Mark Webber is back between the saubers

and in eighth. Mark Webber as he did last year, from pole position,

after the first corner and ABBA give you a run down. Rosberg,

Sebastian Vettel, Felipe Massa, Alonso. Petrov is in 10th place.

Alguersuari on the first corner. And it's very broken front wing.

Michael Schumacher in 15th place already from the 24th slot on the

grid, so he stays clear of the trouble. Paul di Resta up into 13th

place so a very good start. Bruno Senna in 14th. Hamilton is

defending from Fernando Alonso. He was already ahead of him. So,

Fernando Alonso on the attack. Rosberg leads by 0.4 seconds.

Button still tough. Schumacher now 14th, he passed Barrichello.

Maldonado in 17th. Look at the wrong he has got. Fernando Alonso

is so much faster down Raidillon. Hamilton looks back. Fernando

Alonso defends well, no DRS at this point in the Grand Prix. And the

speed he had over the top of Eau Rouge, it looked like the car was

going at about 15 mph faster. He has had contacted the first corner

and his new nose has been fitted so after a great qualifying, not a

great start to this grand prix. much contact. Lotus, Kovaleinen has

pitted. Timo Glock, Bruno Senna and Bruno Senna... Look how well Felipe

Massa is hanging on as well. That bodes very well. Fernando Alonso

has passed Lewis Hamilton soul into 4th place. Hamilton in 5th place.

And then Sebastien Buemi. The yellow flags are out. Alguersuari.

This might not be a bad thing for Sebastian Vettel, he is being held

to do so were Ps and any fear of overheating as front tyres is

keeping him. It isn't running as fast as it would normally go so he

is getting the position and I would expect the DRS will be available

within the one-second window and he should be able to pass Rosberg.

we are sliding around in turbulent air, he will understeer or even

more. Fernando Alonso the fastest man on the track. The cars running

on the ground with all of that fuel. Rosberg go in Defence 1. -- going

defensive. And he just takes that lead comfortably. The DRS has been

enabled. Look at the top four. Covered by under two seconds and

Hamilton struggling to hang on and Mark Webber, just did not get away.

Let's look at the action in the first corner. Both found a car's...

Bruno Senna has gone end and they tapped Alonso. Bruno Senna went

into deep on the brakes and hit the Toro Rosso of Alguersuari and he

almost collected Fernando Alonso and that looks like Bruno triggered

that one. He went down to stall. That is there to stop the engine

dying but he would have to put in touch again and by that time he was

swamped as we get this Great Yew of Bruno Senna showing he is rusty. --

great view. And this view is from Alguersuari. Minding his own

business in the middle and he is about to get a proper thump. He

actually broke his suspension. He engaged Fernando Alonso. Jensen

Button's front wing is damaged, so much so that they are bringing him

in for a pit-stop to put the new one on. That is affordable for his

wrist. The -- horrible for his race. Sebastian Vettel is in. We also

have Button in for that new road -- nose cone. Nearly two seconds

quicker than Rosberg and the previous lap. Fernando Alonso

having a look at Felipe Massa. Felipe Massa had DRS because he was

one second behind so he is getting the benefit of 20 kilometres per

hour on top of his top speed. It is like a stalemate. Fernando Alonso

must have walked speed! -- walk. We are on lap four only. So much chaos.

Absolutely extraordinary. I want a replay of the radio message from

last year. Fernando is faster than you. It does look at this stage

that he will have the cushion he might need to keep the lead.

Bull are in trouble with their tyres, big trouble for Mark Webber

to comment and put on medium tyres. Jensen is able to run on the soft

tyre for this stint. Just having a discussion as to whether they need

to bring Sebastian Vettel end. His pace is good but surely it's only a

matter of time before he has to comment. Nico Rosberg defending for

all of his worth against Felipe Massa. The Ferrari are looking

mighty. I can see the marks on the front tyres at the moment. You can

only see the front tyres on the slow corners. Fernando Alonso in

the double slipstream. Can Felipe Massa a brave this out around the

outside? He will get a better run- up here. He was Hamilton catching

him and it is a better run into the braking zone. He has gone into deep.

Can Felipe Massa a comeback? He almost touched the grass to make it

work. Some smoke coming off the back of Felipe Massa. Challenging

for second place. He goes down to 5th place in a match of three

corners. It is certainly open race day at Ferrari. Fernando Alonso

pushing his team-mate as wide as he possibly dead. That almost ended in

tears for them. That was a golden opportunity for Lewis Hamilton. It

did look like he was struggling to keep pace. Here is a replay.

Fernando Alonso comes hard off the top in to turn No. 6 and down the

inside. That used to be gravel. Last year he would have been

bouncing through the gravel. And the situation were Lewis Hamilton

would have deployed his Kers system. Sebastian Vettel pitch from the

lead to put on another set of the soft tyres. Interesting. That is

different to what they did with Mark Webber. We did not really see

his pit stop. We are pretty sure that they put the median compound

on a Mark Webber and do they put the soft one on to Sebastian Vettel.

So, Nico Rosberg will be in the lead. He was looking quick at this

stage. We have a broken rear wing on the Toro Rosso. They have to

slow right down and pit. Kobayashi as well. I wondered if

they had contact? They have to call him in, that is so dangerous. Perez

has already pitted with no front wing. So much action going on all

screen. Sebastian Vettel has petted. It does seem that these tyres we

have been talking about have really hurt Red Bull at the moment more

than anybody else, which is why I am sure that McLaren and especially

fiery are saying, they cannot change their suspension set-up and

tyres. It is questionable whether any fresh set are less likely to

blister. Red Bull do not need to win this grand prix to win the

championship. They should bear on the side of caution and listen to

the drivers. The tyres for opening up. Fernando Alonso having a look.

Rosberg is having a great front -- top speed. Even at the Kers system

and the di Resta double, they're not making much headway into

Rosberg. We have tried through his for Bruno Senna. And Timo Glock.

For good measure. Two drivers already having pitted for damage

and now have to drive through the pits at a cost of around 16 seconds.

Look at that, Fernando Alonso very fast at the top of Raidillon. He

has to go the long way round. Once you have that momentum, there is

nothing the other driver can do. But in driving off the road and

that isn't an option at 200 plus mph. Only on a seven. Action

everywhere, I am enjoying this. Tremendous. Remember, Fernando

Alonso started in eighth place on the grid and he has a very

comfortable lead. The Red Bull cars have already put it. There is a

long way to go. -- petted. Jensen Button after that pit-stop... That

is normally were the robber erupts. It is that the Left Front. It looks

like the right as well. He will be feeling that. Rosberg driving a

fantastic defensive race. I don't think the expected to lead this

grand prix, looking at their pace on Saturday and Sunday. They seem

to have lost some of that. The DRS isn't available here. Hamilton

having to get out of the throttle. His team-mate, Nico Rosberg, the

head of 10. I thought he was almost heading for the Pits, he took such

a tight turn. I have seen worse blisters and that. They are new to

Formula One, you do not know what they will do. How does he come off

the top of the hill, Nico Rosberg? The DRS is available now. Surely,

Lewis Hamilton, without really wide open, can go down the outside and

it is a clean pass. Into second place. OK, his front tyres will not

feel quite so bad now. That will be clean air, making his car feel a

lot better. On the 9.6 seconds off the lead. Sebastien Vettel, in 6th

place, having made that pit stop. As we watch Sebastian Vettel

passing Kobayashi. He is up into 5th place and in that case, a so

what you said is interesting. Red Bull are not under pressure to

necessarily win everything, they might be taking a more cautious

approach. But having made that it's a, Sebastian Vettel is looking

handy, P6, less than 10 seconds away from the battle for the lead.

We can expect them to come in in the next two - five laps. It is

only 44 laps, this grand prix. To get to the end of the usable life

of those times. -- tyres. They will watch them through here. It is. 60

mph, this chicane, Fernando Alonso Pits from what was the lead,

Hamilton leaves the Grand Prix. The same concept as they are using with

Sebastian Vettel. They have a good supply of brand new tyres available

as the only used one set and they will qualify with three of each.

The only use one of each. He comes out in front of Mark Webber. Mark

Webber fancies a run, they are so close! Fernando Alonso had to lead

and just as well he did. You can all mighty coming together. Mark

Webber is 35 and he was not lifting around the outside. Look at this,

he flicks down the inside and he is not going to give. They nearly

touch. That is incredible. Fernando Alonso saved them from an all

mighty accident there. But you have to admire Mark Webber, the throttle

pedal wasn't coming up, as we see the damaged front wing of Kobayashi.

Sebastien Buemi, Jaime Alguersuari stopped and Sebastien Buemi has

retired. We saw him with his wing hanging off. So both Toro Rossos

out. Senna is back out, having made his drive through. Fernando Alonso

is all over the back of Mark Webber, because Mark Webber stopped lap

three. So he has six laps more on the tyres. Fernando Alonso has to

make a right in the next lap or two. Lifting out in Blanchmont. A car in

front of him. That is Kobayashi I think. No, it's Force India.

almost contact there, Mark Webber makes his way through. It is Adrian

Sutil. And this is for a position. That is why Adrian Sutil won't

yield. Adrian Sutil still fighting for all his worth. He is entitled

to. He is between the Red Bull and the Ferrari. I don't think he will

be giving Fernando Alonso too much. Fernando Alonso though has the

speed and Sutil will have to lift off the throttle. What brilliant

driving, as they head through that at 185mph. Look at the speed hes --

he has got off Raidillon. Lon Lens takes that position back. --

Fernando Alonso take there is a position back. Massa has also

pitted. Mark Webber has gone out on the medium compound tyre. He has a

different strategy. Remember, if you're now Formula One, hello,

welcome, they have to use, it was a dry Grand Prix, they have to use

both types of tyre during this 44- lap race. Hits the DRS zone, opens

the flap and it will gain him 20kph or the terse -- kilometres an hour.

Ted? TED KRAVITZ: that DRS zone making overtaking very easy.

McLaren comes out for Lewis Hamilton. That was good for Lewis

Hamilton that Fernando Alonso was held up. RADIO: Blistering tyres.

Nico Rosberg's engine is fine, but his braibs were smoking on the grid.

As Lewis Hamilton pits. They don't look that bad. There was some

blistering on the inside-edge. They are not concerned about the

construction, but they don't know, once you break that surface, will

it delaminate. It is a long lap. Very high speed over 240 kilometres

an hour average speed. They all ering on the side of caution.

Hamilton slots back in. We missed the bravery of Rosberg and

Sebastian Vettel going through Blanchmont side by side. That is

not something I would want. There are some reasons why I am not doing

this any more, I wouldn't want to be side by side with Fernando

Alonso on Eau Rouge or through Blanchmont. Sebastian Vettel was

not going to give up. RADIO: Vettel has blistered his new tyres.

Remember what we talked about, take it easy if you can. Remind us why

the Red Bull is harder on its front tyres? Apparently they're running a

higher front camber. It is not highest in the grid, but that puts

more heat on the shoulders and that could be one of the reasons. It

could be he is just going faster. Camber, they lean the top of the

tyre in. Your road cars have it a bit. Lean the top of the tyre and

when you go around the corner and the tyre tux under through loads,

you frepbt the face of the tyre -- you present the face of the tyre to

the track better and you don't put as much camber on the rears.

don't want that for traction, too much rear camber will affect your

ability to put the footprint down. But it will help you. We have now

got Rosberg in the pits. Shuement Michael Schumacher is up there with

-- Michael Schumacher us up there with Massa and Button. That was a

slow stop. He has gone again to the soft tyre. Why are they not, if

they're blistering tyres, why aren't they going to the more

secure compound? Because of the lap time, the option tyre is over a

second quicker. The blistering is a concern for the tyres, but not in

term of lap time. You don't want to give away that performance of the

running on the harder tyre. There is Mark Webber on the medium

compound tyre. That was a pass for position. He is now up to fourth

having passed Kobayashi. Petrov is in sixth, Sutil seventh, Lewis

Hamilton is eighth. Nico Rosberg has now left the pits. We see Lewis

Hamilton on Sutil again. The second time he has passed Sutil, having

made a pit stop in between. Lewis Hamilton then has been told, what

we talked about, let's work out how the -- to protect the front tyres.

It is the corner where the tyres are sliding across the track that

overheats them. Fernando Alonso still piling on the sector times.

Sebastian Vettel leads on lap 12 from Fernando Alonso. And on board

with Lewis Hamilton next. The target is Petrov. You can't get on

the inside at Blanchmont. And passed in a flash. The faster car

sh better tyres. Fernando Alonso, another new fastest lap. But Mark

Webber is matching that. Fernando Alonso is over a second faster than

Sebastian Vettel. So the next four laps will be on him. That is Lewis

Hamilton taking Kobayashi with that damaged front wing. I imagine his

car is sliding around and understeering badly. And Lewis

Hamilton can use the DRS, because he was within a second, when even

though he passed oh contacted, Lewis Hamilton into the barriers,

and Kobayashi came back on the outside of him. Lewis wasn't aware

that he was there. Or chose and into the tyres. Lewis Hamilton out

of the Grand Prix. He thought he had got the pass done. But

Kobayashi was coming back at him. It has still got the DRS wide-open.

Bizarre how Kobayashi had so much top speed, he didn't have his DRS

open. And he was getting passed by hue wis. Lewis Hamilton will be

fine after that. No big impact. Slid along the barrier. But the

safety car is out. That is obviously very bad news for Lewis

Hamilton. But good news for the runners who are concern about

blistering tyres. But it is just he doesn't seem to be able to find the

luck this year. If there is is an incident that is marginal. I don't

think he was at fault there. He was already, he had made the move.

Going down the hill. He thinks he has got the move down and he goes

over to take his normal racing line it is a big initial impact. I agree

with you, it shouldn't be too serious. And unsurprisingly, Red

Bull are using the safety car opportunity to make what could be a

three pit stop, other than losing track position in the crocodile

that forms behind the safety car. Having seen it again, how do you

apportion blame in that incident? Well it didn't look like Lewis was

moving back across to the left. He was still giving him space. You can

see the Red Bull out there. Jenson Button is in for a stop. It look

like Kobayashi started to turn in before Lewis Hamilton started to

turn in. You can't do that. You can't just turn in and hope the guy

on the inside is going to respond. We need to see a few more camera

angles. But any way you cut it, not a good afternoon for Lewis Hamilton.

It seemed to me as if Lewis Hamilton hadn't recognised that

Kobayashi was coming back at him. I think he thought he had got the

pass done. I don't think I understand why Kobayashi thought he

could go around the outside. He would have to filter in. When he

reflects on it, he will think that is a missed opportunity. So your

point is why was Kobayashi putting his car there and not falling into

line? You lose less time. When you're being overtaken, you accept

that and you try and minimise the time loss. Because if you cannot

lose an extra amount, that might be crucial to help you re-pass the guy,

or later. Look at that, the barrier's separated where the front

of that car has made impact. Here we go. I think Lewis Hamilton, he

is looking right, he looking at the apex and not at his left hand

mirror. He thinks he is ahead. he wasn't moving to left. Kobayashi

started to turn in. We need to see that again. If we get the chance

while the safety car it out. Here we go. Let's see the direction of

travel Lewis Hamilton has gone relative to the inside of the track.

That is why those noses are so heavily crash tested. It did what

it should to absorb the energy. Lewis Hamilton was on the full left

hand side of the track and then moved to the middle. Almost as if

he felt he needed to defend again. Ted is at McLaren. TED KRAVITZ: the

team say that Lewis Hamilton is fine. They believe his favure to

move was because he was winded. But it was frustration. He was going so

well. He was looking after the tyres and had Red Bull under

control, McLaren feel, and would have been close with Fernando

Alonso for the lead and perhaps the victory. So they feel it was Lewis

Hamilton being ultraannoyed and frustrated. He has been taken out

of a race he could have won. Indeed. As we see the HRT of Daniel

Ricciardo. Is he going on the -- to be the fourth driver to retire?

Kobayashi is in the pits, new tyres and new front wing. Here is a run

down of the order after all those stops and crashes. Fernando Alonso

leads the Grand Prix. From Mark Webber. Sebastian Vettel is third.

Felipe Massa fourth, Nico Rosberg fifth, Kobayashi was sixth but

pitted. Then its Adrian Sutil and then Sergio Perez, Petrov, Michael

Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. Jenson Button pitted as well. We

will have to see when they all form up behind the safety car what the

line up is. Sebastian Vettel has got a free pit stop out of this. He

has done two stops sh put another set of option tyres on in third.

Because when Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber go for their second

stops, we know that will cost them at least 20 seconds on the track.

They're unlikely to be able to break away from Sebastian Vettel.

Don't forget the restart. So the big question is how far can you go

on that second set, or that third set of option tyres? Third and

final set of option tyres. And he is forced to use the white-marked

medium tyre. Team boss Christian Horner. He will be thinking, here

is one driver we haven't got to beat this afternoon, which is Lewis

Hamilton. Lewis Hamilton was a serious contender to win this race.

Ferrari have looked good from the start. And despite everything, Red

Bull, despite tyre changes and different strategies, Red Bull are

very much in the action. Nico Rosberg staying in there too. So we

will get, as they come out of the second part, we will gate full run

down soon. When the line goes through this point I will give you

a full run down of exactly what the order is. We're on lap 15, Fernando

Alonso from Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Felipe Massa, Kobayashi,

still showing sixth, I don't know in if that is right. Adrian Sutil,

Paul di Resta, Sergio Perez, Vitaly Petrov. And then Michael Schumacher

Timo Glock. Out of the Grand Prix. Alguersuari, Sebastien Buemi. No

sign of the safety car coming in, they are the men who will make that

decision. As to win they are satisfied that the area has been

cleaned up. When they be concerned about that barrier looking at that

second hand? By I think they will be. The chances of having another

car hitting that in exactly the same players are slim but can you

take the risk? They might take the view that it still falls under FAI

regulations. It did look a more open than I would have felt

comfortable with if I was barrelling towards it. What are the

chances of any car doing that again? Personally, I would not stop

the Grand Prix for it to repair the barrier. We have all been up there,

with punctures and failed suspension and brakes but we tend

to go straight on. Once the car actually stop on the left-hand side,

along the wrong and they continued racing and we all agreed afterwards

we should not have a stationary car on the track and it was in an area

where they could not recover the car without the safety car. It is

obviously not the situation we are looking at you. They are taking

their time and getting that he churchy out of the way. Another

line on strategy, Sebastian Vettel, the winner of this safety car

period by coming in and changing tyres, and he will take the lead

when Fernando Alonso needs to pit. His tyres are nine abseiled down

but he could have given them a rest at some point under this system.

Whoever is running that conscious strategy, he will be faster towards

the end of the race. This is the 10th Belgian Grand Prix. That has

been affected by safety cars. They are a relatively recent thing and

the high-speed nature means if you do have an excellent, it is high

speed. They have bolted. You can overtake as an issue have got over

that line and it will then be a drag race down to the first corner.

And it is Sebastian Vettel going up the inside of Mark Webber. Webber

maintain his position as we see Perez on the inside of petrol. No

contact this time around. And Fernando Alonso confidently leading

from the two squabbling Red Bull cars. Felipe Massa, reinvigorated.

Adrian Sutil behind him, Rosberg did keep his position. Rosberg

might go down the outside of Felipe Massa and he takes possession.

Fairly close to the living Ferrari, as well. -- leading Ferrari. Past

Rubens Barrichello. A long way to go this afternoon yet. Fernando

Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber is third, he has made his

way past his team-mate and Rosberg is behind him. Sebastian Vettel

making fresh use of those tyres. He is getting lined up to pass

Fernando Alonso on this lap. There is Michael Schumacher, up into 9th

place. Having started in 24th on the grid. Michael Schumacher making

his way through and staying out of trouble. He has pitted twice.

Sebastian Vettel also. So has Jensen Button, actually. If we look

at the pace of that Red Bull, chasing down the Ferrari. Will he

be having a go up the inside? They clashed badly with Jensen Button

last year. There is Button on the outside of petrol. He will try to

run in on the outside. Button should get a better exit. Very good

on the brakes. Going down the outside of Vitaly Petrov, he has to

get out of the way because Sergio Perez is so tight on the brakes. He

goes left and wide. Gets could drive and he takes two places but

Button crucially gains two places. What a tremendous race going on

there and now a Sebastian Vettel is around the outside of Fernando

Alonso. Will he be able to brake around the outside? He does.

Fernando Alonso being very kind, there, I would have thought.

get diminishing returns with the Kers system at high speed. Full

defence mode from Fernando Alonso and full attack from Sebastian

Vettel. Lewis Hamilton Sandler becomes a spectator. I wonder how

he sees that? What about this? Sebastian Vettel off the top of the

home, he is so happy with the grip of these tyres, the perfect tyres,

absolute wheel to wheel action. He left Fernando Alonso a little bit

have run in case he was thinking of coming back up the inside. Both

Williams cars in the 11th and Twelfth. Barrichello and Maldonado.

Paul di Resta and Kobayashi behind them. Kovaleinen in 18th place.

Timo Glock, 20th. Schumacher is back up into 7th place. Button must

be eighth place? Schumacher and Button, two former world champions,

making their way through the field very nicely indeed. On lap 18. We

have just gone into the 19th lap. And that Looks Like Trouble, to me!

The camera angle isn't doing this just as, the cars look quick coming

into the braking son. Barrichello down the inside of Sergio Perez.

Gets himself on the inside. That is where they had contact with Lewis

Hamilton. He thinks better of it this time. Through Eau Rouge. They

will get the activation this time. Sergio Perez thinks he has to brake

and then count to three before he finds the right breaking-point.

Look at that, he just steams past Williams, it easily. At the top of

the hill. And retakes that position. Kobayashi on the back of Paul di

Resta. That was extraordinary. looks like Williams have got a huge

amount of rear wing, as it sits in the dirty air of the air box but

compared to the skinny wing of the Sauber in front, it looks like

they're trying to drag more downforce out of this car. They are

sitting ducks on the back straight. Michael Schumacher has polled one

of the fastest first sectors of the entire Grand Prix. We know it isn't

a problem for this, it isn't a disastrous strategy. Meaning the

safety car, presumably? Or the fact that these are fresher tyres.

Reminding Fernando to stay calm and stick with it. Take those tyres as

far as you can. Sebastian Vettel one second faster than Fernando

Alonso on that lap. He has been told that Sebastian Vettel ahead of

you isn't a big problem for us. is only one second per lap faster

at the moment but do not panic! DRS is enabled, disabled when the

safety car comes out. That means they have to do another to complete

laps before it is enabled another time and this is Felipe Massa.

Chasing down Nico Rosberg in 4th place. They are about 1.5 seconds

behind Fernando Alonso. Sergio Perez, Barrichello, Maldonado, Paul

di Resta. 10, 11, 12. Kobayashi is in there as well and Bruno Senna is

holding station in 15. A bit of a roller-coaster ride for his first

grand prix with the team. Still no were... That was a horrible amount

of understeer from Felipe Massa. The cars will still be reasonably

happy with fuel. 80 kilos or slightly less at the stage. We will

stay on this tyre and then one more option at the end, that is the

quickest race. They must hate having to say that over the radio

so that everyone can hear. This is shaping up with Button against

Schumacher. Schumacher in 7th at the moment. But in his really

finding some speed. And he is in a good position. If Mike believes in

any space? Michael is laid on the brakes, he can still get into the

corner. So, Michael, having none of that whatsoever. Very good traction

coming out of this last chicane. On the Run down to the source. I think

he will deploy his Kers system On the Run down to Eau Rouge and look

to get that duress activation. -- DRS. He will have to sell him a

dummy because Michael pretty much knows how to defend the line.

Better than anyone else he has left the inside open. Incredible top

speed from that Mercedes car. they don't have an performance in

the corners, they have for the race. Huge top speed. That is an

impressive performance from Rosberg. Great comeback from 21st, Surrey,

24th, for Schumacher. No further action will be taken, interests and

the, on the incident between Hamilton and Kobayashi. At the top

of the hill. That will not be investigated after the race. --

interesting way. I am surprised by that. -- interestingly. Nothing to

do with Nigel Mansell being up there, he can only advise. They

will have to open up the rule book and advise. We have also got under

investigation, Sergio Perez and Sebastien Buemi. The scenario with

Ferrari is they believe they can make at least one less stop and

Sebastian Vettel and that is reflected in the fact that Fernando

Alonso seems to be doing pretty well on these tyres, which are

getting fairly old by now and his lap times are pretty good. 52.9,

comparable to Sebastian Vettel and the other advantage is that when

Sebastian Vettel runs out, Fernando Alonso will have an extra set of

soft tyres. Sebastian Vettel will have to go on to the median tyre

earlier. That would explain that radio message. And Button was super

late on the brakes. Nico Rosberg still fighting off Felipe Massa.

Sergio Perez has a drive-through for causing a collision. I don't

think we saw that on the screen. We saw the damage and we saw Sebastien

Buemi without his rear wing but we did not see the contact. He is

currently running 10. Just outside the points position. And he has a

drive-through penalty. You cannot stop for any work or tyres. Just

keep going through their at 100 kilometres, around 60 mph. You have

to serve that within three laps. is like passing goal in Monopoly

and not picking up �200. It is a pointless pit stop. We are just

through the have distance. And Sebastian Vettel leads by 3.9

seconds over Fernando Alonso. He is two seconds ahead of Mark Webber,

3.7 clear of Rosberg and could this be...? But under standing outside

this time but Adrian Sutil having none of that, he braked as late as

he needed to. Just to fend off the McLaren. But it is only a matter of

time, surely. The kind of confidence bottom has got. He is

marching through the pack. The car looks fantastic and the brakes. Not

quite so good on the attraction. His commitment on the braking was

brave stuff. We heard about the incident between Hamilton and

Kobayashi not been investigated and to be honest. I remember sitting on

the wall and hit the wall hard. The team were in a good position. As

far as I was concerned, I was ahead of whoever it was I was racing and

I got hit and that was my race over. There has been a lot of races we

haven't finished and that is just another one. How kid you -- did you

this you were faering? I think we were struggling. For whatever

reason we were massively slow on the straight. I guess that is what

got us in that position. Everyone was just pulling away from me on

the straights. I was probably having too much down force. We were

in a good position still and still able to challenge. We got past one

of the Ferraris. Maybe now we got a podium. I'm hearing that the

stewards are not taking any further action, do you think that is the

rigt decision? -- Right decision? dejected Lewis Hamilton. We saw

Jenson Button sailing past Sutil as well. He is quickly catching Felipe

Massa, who has dropped from Nico Rosberg. We saw on board a very

dark patch on the inside of Sebastian Vettel's front tyres as

the rubber starts to erupts. It overheats and blisters and bursts

open. Then they're worried about the integrity of the carcass of the

tyre. He was radioing in saying, I'm seeing those marks you told

know look out for. This is Jenson Button on the back of Felipe Massa.

Jenson Button in sixth place at the moment. Button could be looking

good for fourth place. Mark Webber's only five and a half

seconds ahead of Rosberg in fourth. Massa is getting wide there. Jenson

Button getting himself in position. Could he deploy KERS in the run

down to Blanchmont? Too far back. But you wouldn't bet against him

having a look down into the chicane. It was quite slow down there. It

needed an extra down shift on the way in, such is the lack of grip.

They in the 1 minute 52 and 53s, but Jenson Button is looking strong,

there is no markings on his front tyres No markings on the inside.

You can see the darker grey patches. When you slow down into a slow

corner you can look at them and get a better picture. Or even your own

rear tyres through mirrors. Look how close Jenson Button is to Massa,

he tries down the outside. Massa, will he let him turn in? Oh he has

got through. Another brave and sensational move from Jenson Button

to take over fifth place from Felipe Massa. Felipe Massa, good

sportsmanship there. Jenson Button put total trust in Felipe Massa

there. He wasn't going to tag him around into a spin. That is the

respect between the drivers. Jenson Button did well on the brakes, got

himself on the outsaid, trusted Massa. And if I was wearing a hat,

I would take it off the both of them. That was great racing.

must not discount Mark Webber. 7.4 seconds off the lead. But he has

the harder compound tyre out of the way. He could be fast attend.

others haven't. It is such a long track. There is a certain amount of

evolution of the track. We will keep an eye on that. We're on lap

256789 Ted. TED KRAVITZ: did David want to say something else. In a

minute. I will try to say something. To say is what going on in tyres,

you saw the team radio message, Fernando Alonso is said we're

reaching phase two the the tyres. He has now down 17 lapse on the

tyres. Ferrari will think about a stop. I wonder if they can only two

two stops. We're thinking Three stops for Fernando Alonso and four

for Sebastian Vettel. The radio message from Sebastian Vettel is my

front left is starting to blister again. You can see it clearly there

in that replay. It doesn't, sometimes we see them looking

uglier than that. Look at this. Jenson Button taking a lot of

chances. Please don't take one too many, because you're on for a great

result. Nico Rosberg is in fourth and only just by 0.1 of a second as

they cross the line. Nico Rosberg takes up his position to drive into

La Source hair Ben. Rosberg must have made a police take, he did

1.55.and button did 53.2. -- mistake. Jenson Button has got the

rear wing open and job done. Nico Rosberg's tyres are fading I think.

Look at the distance he pulled out. That is the sort of distance that

Lewis thought he had gone over Kobayashi. Or as he said, whoever I

was racing. He also thought he hadn't finished a lot of races.

This is actually only his second non-finish. Now let's look at one

of the easier passes that Jenson Button has made today. He thinks

about going up the inside. Rosberg covers it and he said, I don't care.

That is one we will look at after. You see how Hu pulled out of the

slip stream at Eau Rouge, dropped speed and then made sure he didn't

catch him too early. RADIO: How far are we in front. Cars in front are

eight seconds ahead. They're suffering from blistering. Music to

his ears. Are you following with what I was saying. You have a blank

expression. I am with you. But more blisters, but Fernando Alonso said

they're OK. There's blisters, but can I cope wit. But that was a

rally call from Button. How far Ahed are they. His next Mark Webber

would be -- victim would be Mark Webber. They're on about the same

speed as Sebastian Vettel. But they're all suffering from

blistered tyres. So Jenson Button could bring himself nicely into the

action. Ted? TED KRAVITZ: Jenson Button has got the slower harder

tyre phase out of the way. He started on those tyres. And changed

when he had to pit for his broken nose. I'm not betting man, but do

Wau want to put on a fiver for charity that Jenson Button might

win this race? Well, I will... Give you a fiver to charity and take

your bet. I think he has got a lot of work to do to win. But he has

got to... He has got to beat this man. Mark Webber has also got his

hard tyre out of way. It could be Mark Webber versus Jenson Button.

Mark Webber hear -- has been holding on nicely. We have Rosberg

falling back into the grass. Massa there, fifth and sixth they're

fighting over. Michael Schumacher is struggling. Sebastian Vettel

from Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa, Adrian

Sutil. Force India going well. Michael Schumacher is eighth. Mald

is up into tenth. Williams only have four points this year. Paul di

Resta is 12th. And out of points, Kobayashi, 13th. There is the man

on the move, Jenson Button. About a third of a second faster than the

men he is trying to catch. That is not a lot. It is not enough at this

point. He is still 7.8 seconds behind Mark Webber in third and 16

seconds off the leader. On board with Michael Schumacher. Adrian

Sutil I in front. They're lapping like for like. 1.54.7. That is 1.8

seconds off the leader. There is a yellow out there. In sector 12.

Something's going on. I will have a look in a moment. We will gate slot

of why we have got yellow -- get a shot of why we have yellow flags.

As Felipe Massa then falls down, cascades down the hill, towards the

Pouhon corner. We have got car 17 has left the road. That is why we

have got yellow flags. That is Sergio Perez, continuing his

difficult afternoon. Michael Schumacher then is ahead of Petrov.

Who is ninth. Senna with his drive- through penalty and his pit stops.

Down to 16th now. Ahead of Jerome D'Ambrosio, Glock, Vitantonio

Liuzzi is just leaving the pits in 19th. Sergio Perez at the tail of

the faeld now. Here is a replay. -- tail of the field. That looks like

a broken suspension. Broken right rear. We saw him coming into the

pits. I think the car will be retiring. Indeed. On update on the

battle between Mark Webber and Jenson Button. 53.6 from Mark

Webber. The gap is down to just 6.8 seconds. Peter Sauber looking down

the pit lane, because Sergio Perez becomes the fifth retirement of

this Grand Prix. And well we saw Sebastian Vettel leap off pole

position. Mark Webber had a poor start. Went into anti-stall and

went nowhere. Both Ferraris flying off the grid. Raid ray you the

quickest car on the circuit, this is brilliant. He has got a broken

rear wing as well. I don't know if that is, is that the trailing edge

of the rear wing? It won't be load- bearing I don't think. But it looks

like a movable device. It took a knock didn't it? With the Senna,

Jaime Alguersuari incident in the first corner. Down in the first

corner, multiple contacts, both Lotuss getting together. Senna

taking out Jaime Alguersuari wholike took out Fernando Alonso.

Then finding amazing speed, Nico Rosberg took the lead. But

relatively short-lived as Sebastian Vettel came back him. Since then it

has been the story of needing to come into the pits to change tyres.

This is Fernando Alonso's second stop of the afternoon. Chose a

different strategy to some. And it is the medium compound, the harder

of the two compounds they have got to run. And he will be hoping that

he will get to the end of Grand Prix. He can do it on tyre wear. He

will be slower than a new set of options of course. But let's see

how his basis as he rejoins the track. Nicely in front of Nico

Rosberg. Puts him into nice clear air. So Fernando Alonso back on the

track and up to speed. Ahead of Nico Rosberg. Felipe Massa and

Adrian Sutil. Here is Ted. KRAVITZ: at Red Bull they say

although Sebastian Vettel has the blister problems, his basis OK and

he has been told to go on. Is Sebastian Vettel going back to a

three stop and Ferrari realising they have to put Fernando Alonsoen

a two stop and go to the end of the race. We will see if that works and

what his basis with these tyres. But Jenson Button's flying. He is a

second a lap quicker than the leader what that time as the track

resolving rg, they are aiming at moving goalposts. Button only 15

seconds off the lead and still motoring nicely indeed. Sebastian

Vettel leads. From Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button,

Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa. And Sebastian Vettel then comes in the

pits, and will go on to the medium compound tyre. This time and his

boys are ready for him. A nice straight approach. You don't have

to duck around anyone's air guns. And launch out of there straight

into the pit limiter, which you only switch off as you cross the

white line at the end. His car will be feeling better and better. That

was a reasonable pit stop, 2.8 seconds. Button just going through

in front of Sebastian. A new set of tyres, getting into the light fuel

zone. The tyres and the track evolving. Rosberg, Massa and Petrov

all pitting. We see Paul di Resta Barrichello defending against Nico

Rosberg he has come out of the pits. Nico Rosberg takes that position

back. And Rubens Barrichello in the middle of that action. He obviously

had a moment because he was over a blind -- over the line as he came

over the hill, we will have to see if there was a reason for that.

are great friends now heading down together. And Felipe Massa need to

get past urgently. He is six seconds in front of us, if you need

comedian soft, he is very ambitious -- you need and medium, a soft.

Webber pits and Jenson Button moves into the lead of the Grand Prix.

thought he would have put the option on -- I thought. Fernando

Alonso setting the fastest lap of the race on the harder tyres. So

maybe there is not such a big of set. This is Sebastian Vettel

taking the lead back from Jenson Button having taken the pit stop

and that will concern Jenson a lot that he does not have the pace up

against drivers on much fresher tyres. And that is an alarm call

for McLaren that if they are struggling that much compared to

those on new tyres... For you will see a replay of this. -- and we

will see. Timed to perfection across the DRS the zone -- the

Diarra sown. And we get on board with Felipe Massa And this is him

passing Nico Rosberg. And that is why it is so critical not to lose

one-tenth of a second on any lap because if you pick and come out,

that is what she could be faced with. -- picked. Michael Schumacher

were shaping up and right behind him is the Renault -- was shaping

up. Sebastian Vettel leads again, what will McLaren it do? They will

have to pit him. And you have Fernando Alonso doing the fastest

lap on the harder tyre. If they can push those to the end, we have 26

degrees track temperature. They are putting soft tyres on him. Because

of the different strategy, he had those, because he did not get

through to qualifying three, he has new soft tyres. But will that bring

him into contention? He is behind Sebastian Vettel. He will be at

least 20 seconds behind Sebastien but he is in there for a podium

place. It is a question of how much time he can find on these and will

they stay with it? Will they give him 11 laps out of life pushing

like crazy? And we watch Felipe Massa picked for the final time and

he is going the same way as most of them. -- pit. Webber is flying out

now. We are seeing sector time after sector time better and better.

It is the third stop for tyres for Felipe Massa as he heads down. Did

he not just picked before that? was a couple of laps before that.

And he is trying to defend here. We are getting the news Felipe Massa

had a puncture so he has had to come back in again. And that is

down in 12th. And that is putting him 40 seconds down the road.

pitted on 30 and 32 with that puncture and that has taken him out

of the action. Be will be interesting to know if that is to

do with the blistering -- it will be. It was a new set of tyres and

it seemed he picked up a punk show. Felipe Massa pitted on lap 30. --

picked up a pub showers. Mark Webber is harder than a map -- then

Sebastian Vettel on the tyres and they are fragile and sensitive so

it guarantees Webber will go to the end. It is ambitious for Sebastian

Vettel to do the next few laps on one set of tyres but it is possible

because he went so long on that middle section.

Now we will watch a lap times because the top four have shuffled

out with pit stops now and we will see how they are doing and how

their cars are working on this track on these tyres. Webber is the

man with the speed. And quite cautious for Vettel, he might want

to conserve those a bit. 11 laps to go including this. That is Fernando

Alonso in second, Webber inferred, still catching him behind Fernando

Alonso. If you get Alonso, you are a second

wicket in the middle sector. -- quicker. Red Bull is mighty in

that middle part, etc. It is very much two different types of track.

-- in that middle part of the track. Mercedes are in fifth and sixth

place now. This is Michael Schumacher, but he still has enough

speed to clear Force India. And having a good day on the grid today.

And Vettel's lead is seven seconds now and he is going faster, but not

as fast as Webber in third, 2.5 seconds behind them, much quicker

than a one so. Jenson Button is 6.6 clear in fourth place. 16 seconds

covers the top four and they have left the Mercedes behind now. It is

a four horse race for the three steps of the podium. And that is

Felipe Massa making his way back after that pit stop now.

Unfortunately, that seems to happen a lot for Felipe Massa, and that

has taken him out of contention. Red Bull, Ferrari, and Red Bull,

McLaren, Mercedes, Mercedes, the top six. Michael Schumacher is

going very well, isn't he? A good race, over 20 years since his debut.

Looking back at Mark Webber catching Fernando Alonso, six

seconds quicker on the last lap and I do not see how Fernando will

maintain his position. Fernando Alonso is locking up in this lap.

If he goes to pit, he will lose his position and if he does not, he

will lose his position as I see it. Fernando Alonso could finish in

fourth place here. I talked to Jenson about standing on that

podium and he has got a chance, no doubt about it. Webber and Jenson

Button catching Fernando Alonso very quickly. 14.7 seconds covers

the top four, so really under pressure at the front. Probably