McLaren's Lewis Hamilton has seized a narrow lead from Mark Webber in the F1 drivers' championship after winning an incident-packed Belgian Grand Prix.
Hamilton took advantage of a poor start from pole-sitter Webber to steal an early lead, which the 2008 world champion steadily extended as chaos unfolded behind him.
The victory was Hamilton's third of the year and puts him three points clear of the Red Bull driver, who fought his way back from a sluggish start to claim second place, 1.5 seconds behind the Brit at Spa-Francorchamps.
Webber's Red Bull team-mate and rival Sebastian Vettel was the centre of attention for the all the wrong reasons yet again, smashing into Jenson Button while trying to pass the reigning world champion on the outside of Bus Stop chicane.
Vettel's car survived the collision, but he incurred his second drive-through penalty in as many races and the wrath of the McLaren driver in the process.
"I thought I was doing a good job of keeping my position and fairly. I don't know what Sebastian was doing. It's a massive blow, I'm really disappointed," Button said.
Vettel eventually finished out of the points in 15th after puncturing a tyre on the Force India car of Vitantonio Liuzzi.
After running fastest in practice of Friday, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso could only manage to qualify in 10th place.
The Spaniard's weekend went from bad to worse as he spun off on lap 38, failing to record vital championship points.
Renault's Robert Kubica impressed, starting and finishing in third after a strong showing all weekend.
Rubens Barrichello's 300th grand prix celebrations were cut short when the Brazilian's Williams crashed out on lap one.
"I touched the brakes and my car went straight into Alonso's. I'm terribly sorry to the team - we'd prepared such a nice party," Barrichello said.
Despite surrendering the lead in the race and the drivers' standings, Webber will be relieved to have avoided the carnage that claimed three of his championship rivals.
New world championship leader Hamilton will already be eyeing next month's Italian GP at a Monza circuit ideally suited to his McLaren.