Button back on top with victory

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS - Agence France-Presse

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso (L) crashes with McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton during the first lap of the Belgium GP. AP photo

Jenson Button claimed his second win this year and 14th of his career yesterday when he drove to a comprehensive victory in an incident and accident-packed Belgian Grand Prix.

Starting from the eighth pole position of his career and his first for the McLaren team, the 32-year-old Briton produced a consummate display of dominant driving from start to finish. His victory was his first since the season-opening race in Australia and came in his 50th outing for McLaren.

Button finished 13.624 seconds ahead of second-placed Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull with Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus completing a podium of champions by coming home third.

Championship leader Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari crashed out of the race at the first corner where he was he was the victim of a multiple collision triggered by aggressive driving by Frenchman Romain Grosjean in the second Lotus. Grosjean swerved into Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren causing a pile-up that eliminated both drivers, along with Alonso and Sergio Perez of Sauber.