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Kimi's relaxing Spa Sunday

Having scored a landmark win for 'justice' off the circuit, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa ensured Ferrari would also be victorious at what they do best in the same week with a crushing 1-2 result in the Belgian Grand Prix.

A somewhat uneventful race that proved to be the polar opposite of what has occurred behind closed doors over the past few days, Raikkonen's lights-to-flag win keeps him in the title reckoning after Massa pinched valuable points in second and Alonso got the better of Hamilton in third and fourth.

Celebrating his victory with a series of donuts, much to the delight of the ever faithful Spa-Francorchamps fans that returned to the circuit after a year on the sidelines, the victory signals Raikkonen's fourth of the season and his third consecutive one in Belgium.

Although already something of a foregone conclusion when McLaren were stripped of their points, the 1-2 also puts Ferrari out of reach of BMW in the constructors' standings to guarantee that the Scuderia will come away with at least one title this year.

Indeed, while both Alonso and Hamilton went into the race confident they could keep up with Ferrari with fuel on board, both quickly realised how much of a difference seven days can make as they found themselves on the receiving end of a dominant display by Ferrari, the start their only chance to keep their rivals honest.

While the revised start-finish straight has widened the La Source hairpin, it was no less crowded heading into the infamous first bend and it was here where Alonso and Hamilton had their best chance to usurp Ferrari. However, save for a feigned look into the corner by the reigning champion, Raikkonen and Massa emerged 'as you were'.

With the Ferrari out of reach, Alonso and Hamilton instead turned their attention to one another as they shuffled out of the corner, the latter using his fearless braking technique to draw alongside his team-mate but rather robustly being forced across the turf and onto the run-off area.

Losing none of the momentum, Hamilton kept his foot down and returned to the circuit alongside Alonso, the two side-by-side, barely an inch apart as they rose up Eau Rouge and probably causing a few breathless moments from an already exasperated Ron Dennis.

Nonetheless, Alonso held sway and forced Hamilton to lift to gain a brief psychological advantage, only to realise Raikkonen and Massa had already pulled a nice margin as they surged down to Les Combes.

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Related Images

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Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari F2007, Belgian F1, Spa, 14-16th, September 2007
Romain Grosjean and Fernando Alonso, Renault, 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix [pic credit: Renault F1]
Fernando Alonso, Renault, 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix [pic credit: Renault F1]
Fernando Alonso, Renault, 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix [pic credit: Renault F1]
Fernando Alonso, Renault, 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix [pic credit: Renault F1]
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Renault R28, Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari F2008, Brazilian F1 Grand Prix, Interlagos, 30th October 2008-2nd November, 2008
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