Zoom The battle of the season ended on a sour note

Ferrari: Spa Francorchamps' famous rain turned the last laps of the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix on its head, after Kimi Raikkonen looked on course to win. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton then launched an attack at the Bus Stop with two laps to go, cut the chicane and re-passed the Finn at La Source, ultimately attracting a post-race penalty that stripped him of his win.

After the La Source incident, Raikkonen's fine race further turned to mud as he spun once and soon after slid into the wall - and perhaps understandably he did not make himself available for the deadline of Ferrari's initial press release.

"We are very disappointed for Kimi, who had driven a great race and deserved the win, especially at this rather difficult time," said team boss Stefano Domenicali.

Very much on the bright side, however, title contender Felipe Massa's second place on the road, achieved by driving admittedly very cautiously, became victory in the stewards' room, turning a potential eight point deficit to Hamilton to just two. "This was a very strange race," the Brazilian surmised.

BMW Sauber: Nick Heidfeld's weekend has been the perfect rejoinder to the speculation about his future, but it was his inspired strategy decision to change to wet tyres with just two laps to go that netted him the podium, which became second place after Hamilton's penalty. "It paid off. It was a hero or zero decision," he enthused. Team-mate Robert Kubica, sixth, was actually ahead of Heidfeld until a pitstop refuelling delay.

McLaren Mercedes: Like Raikkonen and Massa, Hamilton's was a tumultuous race; an early half-spin at La Source that allowed Raikkonen to snatch the lead after Eau Rouge, and then the incredible events of the closing laps, where the Briton took the win but was subsequently demoted to third.

"The team has registered its intention to appeal this decision," said a statement issued by engine partner Mercedes-Benz. Heikki Kovalainen, who had a bad start and served a drive-through penalty for his collision with Red Bull's Mark Webber, retired with a gearbox failure on the last lap but was classified 10th. On his clash with Webber, the Finn said: "It was a racing accident."

Renault: Like Heidfeld, Fernando Alonso also switched to wet tyres in the closing stages and finished a solid fourth. "We have shown that we can be the third strongest team in the championship," he enthused. Nelson Piquet spun into the barriers at the high speed Fagnes chicane on lap 15.