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SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium - Kimi Raikkonen won the Belgian Formula One grand prix for the third successive time on Monday (NZ time), leading a Ferrari one-two to revive his title challenge.
Brazilian Felipe Massa finished second, 4.6 seconds behind the Finn, with McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso third
to cut teammate Lewis Hamilton's overall lead to two points.
With three races remaining, 22-year-old British rookie Hamilton has 97 points to Spaniard Alonso's 95.
Raikkonen, celebrating his 13th career win and fourth of the year, is on 84 with Massa taking his tally to 77.
"It's for sure my favourite circuit, it was even before I came to Formula One," Raikkonen said of one of the most daunting circuits in the sport.
"Unfortunately there's still a long way to go but we are still in the championship and hopefully we can catch up more in the next races."
If any proof were needed that the gloves were off between the McLaren drivers, whose team were stripped of all their 2007 constructors' points and fined US$100 million ($142.30 million) last week, for their part in a spy controversy, Alonso forced Hamilton off the track coming out of the first corner.
Ferrari mathematically clinched the Formula One constructors' title, subject to any appeal from McLaren against their penalty in the next week.
The Italian team, celebrating their third one-two of the year and in the last five races, now have 161 points.
Second-placed BMW-Sauber are on 90 with 54 remaining to be won. McLaren would have had 177.
The last race of the European season, and first in Belgium since 2005, had a familiar winner with Raikkonen previously triumphant with McLaren at the longest circuit on the calendar in last two grands prix there.
The Finn led from pole position on a sunny afternoon in the Ardennes, with Massa slotting into second place and the McLaren drivers producing the early fireworks as they scrapped for third.
With Hamilton trying to go past him, Alonso shut the door and forced his team mate wide onto the runoff.
The Briton still came back but was unable to get his revenge with the first four at the chequered flag reflecting the starting order.
"We were wheel by wheel into turn three or four but I was lucky to be on the inside and keep the position," said Alonso, who added he had been forced to run wide by Massa locking up in front of him.
"If I win the last three races it will be enough," said the Spaniard, who led Hamilton in a one-two on Ferrari's home ground at Monza last weekend.
"I need to win and hopefully in the next one I will have the chance.
"We were a little bit off the pace today," he said, predicting, however, that the next race at the Fuji circuit in Japan would be more to McLaren's taste.
Germany's Nick Heidfeld was fifth for BMW Sauber with compatriot Nico Rosberg sixth for Williams, his fourth scoring finish in a row.
Australian Mark Webber collected two points for Red Bull while Finland's Heikki Kovalainen wrapped up the scorers with eighth place for Renault.
- REUTERS