Button wins in Belgium in race marred by spectacular first corner crash

Jenson Button leads while his McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton has made contact with the rear of Romain Grosjean's Lotus.

Grosjean's Lotus is flipped upwards after the initial collision and is about to be catapulted into the air.

Grosjean's Lotus is about to fly over the red Ferrari of championship leader Fernando Alonso.

A dramatic view of Grosjean flying over cars on the first corner of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

Grosjean in the Lotus has cleared Alonso's front wing and is about the come to ground.

In the ensuing chaos Hamilton, Alonso and Sauber's Sergio Perez are all caught up in the crash and their race is over.

A disgruntled Hamilton gestures in the direction of Grosjean after being taken out in the first corner incident at Spa-Francorchamps.

A delighted Jenson Button was left to celebrate his 14th F1 career victory after a superb performance in the Belgian GP.

HIDE CAPTION

First corner fracas

Dangerous collision

Going airborne

Flying Grosjean

Down to earth

Crash chaos

Angry Hamilton

Victorious Button

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(CNN) -- Britain's Jenson Button won the Belgian Grand Prix Sunday after a spectacular first corner crash ended the hopes of championship leader Fernando Alonso and three other drivers.

Frenchman Romain Grosjean clipped the McLaren of Button's teammate Lewis Hamilton and catapulted into the air in his Lotus, flying over Ferrari's Alonso and narrowly avoiding the head of the two-time champion from Spain.

Mexican Sergio Perez of Sauber was also caught up in the crash.

Miraculously, no-one was injured in the incident, but a safety car was deployed while the debris was cleared off the circuit at Spa-Francorchamps.

Grosjean was later given a one-race ban by stewards after being held responsible for the carnage.

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Button, who was on pole, avoided the incident and quickly took command for his second victory of the year and the 14th of his career.

The 2009 world champion came home nearly 14 seconds ahead of defending champion Sebastian Vettel, the Red Bull driver capitalizing on the chaos after starting a lowly 10th on the grid.

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen for Lotus completed a podium of world champions in third place.

Button, who has struggled since his opening race victory in Australia was delighted by his change in fortunes.

"What can I say, this circuit is so special to most drivers with the history and the way it flows. To get a victory from lights to flag is very special, especially as it has not been an easy year for me. We are going to enjoy this before we head to Monza (for the Italian GP) and hopefully do the same," he told the official post-race conference.

German Nico Hulkenberg was a surprise fourth for Force India ahead of Brazil's Felipe Massa in his Ferrari.

Vettel has closed up to 24 points behind Alonso in the title standings, with teammate Webber, sixth in Belgium, eight points further adrift.

Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher marked his 300th Grand Prix with a fine drive for seventh in the Mercedes ahead of their Toro Rosso pair of Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo.

Briton Paul Di Resta took the final point in 10th place in the second Force India.