Massa declared winner of Belgian GP after Hamilton penalized
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium -- Felipe Massa was declared the winner of Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton was penalized for cutting a corner during a late duel with world champion Kimi Raikkonen.
Hamilton crossed the line 14.4 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Massa in a dramatic finish that saw Raikkonen crash into a barrier, but the McLaren driver was penalized 25 seconds for his illegal maneuver.
The penalty from FIA demoted Hamilton to third, with BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld promoted to second.
McLaren could not immediately appeal Sunday's official results but decided to launch an official complaint with the sport's international court of appeal. It was unclear when it would be heard.
The decision came almost three hours after Hamilton had been spraying champagne on friends and rivals to celebrate perhaps his most dramatic victory and a widening gap in the overall standings.
Instead of an eight-point edge, Hamilton now leads Massa 76-74 with five races remaining.
It was Massa's second straight victory after his win two weeks ago in Valencia, though, apart from briefly leading during a pit stop, he was never really in contention.
The incident that cost Hamilton came after the low-flung clouds over the wooded circuit released a huge shower during the last three of 44 laps with most cars on dry tires after the final pit stop.
In a furious battle for first, Hamilton ran wide across the circuit's closing chicane and cut a corner. He said Raikkonen forced his hand.
"He pushed me wide. I had no room," Hamilton said. "This is motor racing."
The stewards disagreed.
For most of the race it looked as if Raikkonen would win his fourth straight Belgian GP, but the rain came and gave Hamilton an edge over the Ferrari driver.
"I was praying: rain, rain, rain. I wanted the rain to come," said the 23-year-old Hamilton, who in just his second season further established himself as the best driver of his generation in the rain, much like Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna did before him.
Hamilton and Raikkonen almost crashed into each other, but after some spectacular maneuvers Hamilton came out of the Source hairpin in front. The British driver soon lost the lead again, however, when he had to veer off the track to avoid a slower car. But Hamilton got back in front when Raikkonen lost control. The Finn was then forced to take risks, resulting in a crash into the side railings.
"I saw these guys fighting like crazy," said Massa, who took the safe route and drove slowly over the last lap.
Hamilton enjoyed the advantage of his pole position for just one lap. While he got to the opening Source hairpin first, Raikkonen was already making a move behind him.
Having started in fourth, the Finn went wide in the hairpin and immediately challenged teammate Massa on the first long straight and got into Hamilton's slipstream with a daring move. One lap later, he used the same long straight to pass Hamilton and take the lead on his favorite circuit.
At halfway, Raikkonen led by 5.5 seconds over Hamilton and 11.2 over Massa.
Hamilton started closing in after the second pit stop, and with 15 laps left the Briton could see the red Ferrari less than two seconds in front of him. Massa was six seconds behind, setting up the thrilling finish.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
