BRITSTOP; F1, ROUND 12 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX.

Byline: BYRON YOUNG

JENSON BUTTON was rammed out of the Belgian Grand Prix on the first lap - and then found himself in a post-race row.

Rookie Romain Grosjean plunged Button's season to a new low as he crashed into the back of the Brawn in an incident which also ended Lewis Hamilton's race.

But then the Frenchman turned on world championship leader Button and accused him of causing the accident.

The collision at Les Combes consigned the 29-year-old to his worst result in 12 races and his first non-finish of the season as Kimi Raikkonen chalked up his first victory in 16 months.

"Button took me out on Turn 5 and that was the end for me," said Grosjean, who was contesting only his second Grand Prix.

"I would have loved to have finished the race." Button was incredulous: "I can't believe he's blaming me but, to be fair, I don't really care.

"It's not really important. I didn't score any points, and that's what's important. "He's 100 per cent to blame.

Maybe he doesn't have enough experience with F1 brakes or getting these tyres up to temperature.

"It wasn't even an overtaking manoeuvre. He just hit me. It's really frustrating for everyone, but most aren't fighting for the championship - I am."

Neither the Frenchman, nor his team, could come up with an adequate explanation why Button would risk his points lead by tangling with an inexperienced rival.

Button was left to watch from the sidelines for 43 nail-biting laps to learn what damage would be inflicted on his dreams. In the end, it was a sigh of relief and yet another narrow escape.

For the fifth race in succession his rivals failed to capitalise on his misfortunes.

Sebastian Vettel scored just six points to become his chief pursuer while Mark Webber was hit with a drive-through penalty for unsafe release in the pit lane and stormed home empty-handed in ninth.

Rubens Barrichello, the man who started highest of the trio, struggled home seventh and only got that courtesy of his Mercedes engine which held together for two laps - ominous smoke pouring from it - before it burst into flames in the pit lane.

With five rounds remaining, Button's advantage was cut by just two points to 16.

Despite the fact he has scored only 11 points in the last five races, he still has a healthy lead.

Fate, it appears, is insisting this title belongs to the man from Frome, while victory here at Spa went to a sixth different name in six races.

Raikkonen, who is to be ditched by Ferrari at the end of the season, scored his first victory in 26 races, with Giancarlo Fisichella second and Vettel third.

There was no fairy-tale return to Spa for Hamilton after last year's injustices when he was stripped of victory by stewards.

Instead, his day ended in the same sand trap as Button, having been hit by Jaime Alguersuari. He mistimed his start and lost part of his front wing on the first bend.

CAPTION(S):

BUTTON DOWNEDs Jenson Button and Romain Grosjean crash on lap one.. HAM FISTED .. within seconds Lewis Hamilton hit the same tyre wall