Race details | |||
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Race 14 of 18 in the 2004 Formula One season | |||
Date | 29 August 2004 | ||
Official name | LXI Foster's Belgian Grand Prix | ||
Location | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | ||
Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
Course length | 6.976 km (4.335 mi) | ||
Distance | 44 laps, 306.927 km (190.716 mi) | ||
Weather | Dry with temperatures reaching up to 15 °C (59 °F) | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver | Renault | ||
Time | 1:56.232 | ||
Fastest lap | |||
Driver | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren-Mercedes | |
Time | 1:45.108 on lap 42 | ||
Podium | |||
First | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
Second | Ferrari | ||
Third | Ferrari | ||
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The 2004 Belgian Grand Prix (formally the LXI Belgian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 29 August 2004, at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, near the town of Spa, Belgium. It was the 14th race of the 2004 Formula One Season. The race was contested over 44 laps and was won by Kimi Räikkönen, taking his and McLaren's only race win of the season from tenth place on the grid. Second place for Michael Schumacher won him his seventh world championship, after beating third-placed Rubens Barrichello.
Jarno Trulli started from pole position alongside Schumacher. The race saw many changes of the lead, but following several fortuitous safety cars, Räikkönen was leading the race for the final few laps. Mark Webber triggered a pile-up at the start, eliminating four cars and damaging several others, although he did admit to his mistake later. The race saw Christian Klien score his first championship points, and Olivier Panis and the Jaguar team their last.
Ferrari had sealed the Constructors' Championship at the previous race, but the battle for second in the Championship, between Renault and BAR, was still fierce.
Heading into the 14th race of the season, Michael Schumacher, driving for the Ferrari team, was leading the Drivers' Championship by 38 points from team-mate Rubens Barrichello. Jenson Button, driving for BAR, was in third place, but only Schumacher and Barrichello could mathematically win the championship. The race was Ferrari's 700th Grand Prix as part of the Formula One World Championship.