Raikkonen wins the Belgian Grand Prix

SPA, Belgium, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Kimi Raikkonen drove his Ferrari to victory Sunday at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, the fourth win in his last five races at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit.

Pole winner Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari) finished second and Sebastian Vettel (Renault) third.

He established control early, charging from sixth to second heading into the first corner of the first lap.

"It hasn't been an easy year for us," Raikkonen said after Ferrari's first win in 2009 and his 18th career F1 victory.

Raikkonen remained in the race by missing an incident on the fifth turn where Brawn GP driver Jenson Button was hit by Renault rookie Romain Grosjean.

Button spun into the barrier and could not continue.

During the same lap, defending F1 champion Lewis Hamilton slammed into the barrier when he was hit from behind by Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari while trying to avoid the Button incident and also departed.