Belgian Grand Prix 2014 - Race Schedule and Countdown
Belgian Grand Prix
Spa • Belgium
Aug 24, 2014 12:00 PM
Race Results
Race Summary
Daniel Ricciardo claimed his third victory of 2014 at the Belgian Grand Prix, triumphing after a dramatic collision between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg eliminated Hamilton from the race. The Mercedes teammates made contact on lap two when Rosberg's front wing punctured Hamilton's rear tire, forcing the Briton's retirement and triggering fury in the Mercedes garage. Rosberg continued but could only manage second behind Ricciardo, with Valtteri Bottas completing the podium.
The collision at Les Combes corner became one of 2014's defining moments, with Rosberg later admitting in a team meeting that he deliberately didn't avoid the contact. The incident poisoned the already tense relationship between the Mercedes drivers and shifted the championship dynamics significantly. Ricciardo benefited from the chaos to claim victory, showcasing Red Bull's improved form and his own opportunistic racecraft.
Ricciardo's Belgian victory came amid the championship controversy, but his performance was nonetheless impressive. For Hamilton, the collision and subsequent retirement represented a devastating 25-point swing to Rosberg, leaving him 29 points behind with seven races remaining. The Spa incident would be remembered as a turning point in the title fight, demonstrating how quickly fortunes could change and how teammate tensions could boil over into on-track incidents.