Belgian Grand Prix 2005 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Kimi Raikkonen claimed his sixth victory of the season with a commanding performance at the Belgian Grand Prix, dominating the race at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit to beat championship leader Fernando Alonso. The Finnish driver's Spa triumph marked another demonstration of his exceptional speed and talent, but with just two races remaining and Alonso's substantial points lead, Raikkonen's championship challenge was mathematically over, leaving only pride and the constructor's championship at stake.

Starting from second on the grid behind Juan Pablo Montoya's pole lap of 1:46.391, Raikkonen drove a flawless race through Spa's challenging combination of Eau Rouge, Blanchimont, and the Bus Stop chicane. The McLaren MP4-20 was perfectly suited to Spa's high-speed nature, and Raikkonen exploited every ounce of performance from the silver car. His pace was relentless, and he controlled the race from the front with the authority of a champion, pulling away from Alonso's chasing Renault to claim a comfortable victory. Ralf Schumacher set the fastest lap for Toyota, demonstrating the improving pace of the Japanese manufacturer.

Alonso drove a mature, calculated race to secure second place, extending his championship lead to an almost unassailable margin with just Brazil and Japan remaining. His runner-up finish was exactly what his title campaign needed - consistent points while his main rival won. Jenson Button claimed his second podium of the season with third place for BAR, providing the Honda-powered team with a morale-boosting result. Raikkonen's victory was his sixth of the season - matching Alonso's win tally - but McLaren's chronic reliability issues had cost him any realistic championship shot. The Finn had been the fastest driver of 2005, but Alonso was about to become champion through superior consistency and Renault's bulletproof reliability. Spa marked another bittersweet triumph for Raikkonen - dominant speed undermined by what might have been.