With just three laps remaining in the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix, hell broke loose when the skies opened up and heavy rains began pelting the classic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the Ardennes. With water drowning the track, Scuderia Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen led Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa, but then came a comedy of errors and downright calamity as Hamilton passed the Finn at La Source. However, a few beats later, Hamilton gave the lead right back when he was forced to serve wide of a spinning Kazuki Nakajima. Then, once again, Hamilton was back in P1 after Raikkonen lost contact with the track, crashing out in a heap. Massa held on to place second while behind him, the third place position turned into a free for all. Sebastien Bourdais of the Toro Rosso outfit held station in third before being used for traction by the BMW-Sauber of Nick Heidfeld and the Renault of Fernando Alonso. Next came Sebastian Vettel, BMW’s Kubica, the limping STR-Ferrari of Bourdais and Toyota’s Timo Glock.

In the race for the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship, Hamilton holds sway over Massa, 80 points to 72. Raikkonen resides in third with 57 points.

“It was an experience and a half," said Hamilton, who won the 44-lap race by 14.4 seconds. "I was praying for rain, I wanted the rain to come, I knew how to deal with it and the heavens opened. I saw Kimi about to back off, brake a lot earlier than he did, into Turn 8 and I knew the fight was on."

Runner-up Massa made mention that he was "pleased" with the position considering all the chaos that ensued both in front and behind him.

“Near the end I was slower than I was supposed to be because I saw many people going off, especially Kimi and Lewis who were a bit in front," explained Massa. "I didn't want to risk. Eight points is eight points. I was going very slow through corners, it was very, very damp. Sometimes you think something and you go off. I was just comfortable in third place the whole race. It was difficult to catch Kimi and Lewis. Then suddenly second place came to me so I am pleased.”

Hamilton was fortunate to win the race as the pole sitter spun La Source on lap number two, allowing Raikkonen to flash by and into the lead. The duo raced close together, both pitting on lap number 25, Raikkonen gaining a 3.8 second lead when the cars reentered the track. U then came lap number 41 and the rain and, immediately thereafter, Raikkonen’s crucial mistake.

Next stop: The 2008 Formula 1 Gran Premio Santander D´Italia at Monza in seven days time.