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Heidfeld scores podium at Spa
By BMW Sauber F1 Team September 7 2008
Thanks to an impressive final lap at the "Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps", Nick Heidfeld secured his fourth podium result of the season. On intermediate tyres the German successfully improved to third in the Belgian Grand Prix. Robert Kubica finished sixth in the Ardennes Mountains.

Start preparations: With temperatures reaching 16 degrees Celsius and a partially damp track the 20 Formula One drivers line up on the starting grid for the Belgian Grand Prix. Nick and Robert have opted for the softer dry tyre for their first stint. Race control informs the teams that no rain is expected in the next 30 minutes.

Start: Nick gets off well from fifth on the grid, but is pushed to the outside by Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) at "La Source", thereby dropping back to 11th. Robert loses two positions, and is now running in tenth.

Lap 1: Robert attacks Timo Glock (Toyota) and passes the German. Moments later he benefits from a spin by Glock's team-mate Jarno Trulli's, thus improving to eighth. Heidfeld also passes Trulli and launches a successful overtaking move against Glock. Nick is running in ninth.

Lap 3: Nick is passed by Kovalainen.

Lap 4: Robert overtakes Nelson Piquet (Renault) for seventh.

Lap 6: Nick gains one place by also passing Piquet.

Lap 9: Kovalainen keeps on pushing - and takes seventh from Robert.

Lap 11: Kovalainen hits Mark Webber (Red Bull) and is punished with a drive-trough penalty. Robert improves to sixth, while Nick gets past Webber.

Lap 12: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) is he first driver to pit - he rejoins behind Robert. Further pit stops follow. Nick moves up into seventh after Kovalainen's stop.

Lap 15: Nick completes his first pit stop and rejoins in ninth. 


Lap 16: Robert pits, like Nick he opts for the softer tyre compound. He rejoins the action in seventh.

Lap 18: Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) comes in for a late stop, promoting Robert to sixth. A little later Nick again passes Glock, who is still on his first stint, for P8.

Lap 32: Nick comes in for his second pit stop and rejoins on the harder tyre compound. He is ninth.

Lap 34: Robert completes his second planned stop, but loses time due to a problem with the fuel rig. The 23-year-old rejoins in eighth, one position behind his team-mate.

Lap 39: Thick clouds hang over the circuit. But there is still no sign of rain.

Lap 42: It's starts raining at the "Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps".

Lap 43: The BMW Sauber F1 Team calls Nick in for a tyre change. The 31-year-old rejoins on intermediate tyres. Robert gains one place.

Lap 44: Nick is gaining ground on the final lap of the race and passes many cars that are still running on dry tyres. Robert, however, drives home carefully in sixth position, which he has held since Kimi Räikkönen's (Ferrari) retirement.

Finish: Robert takes the chequered flag in sixth, while Nick receives a well-earned reward for his tyre change: He delivers plenty of overtaking manoeuvres in the final corners, and crosses the line in third. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) secures victory, Ferrari's Felipe Massa is the third man on the podium in second.

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