Benetton technical director Mike Gascoyne praised Giancarlo Fisichella's third place at the Belgian Grand Prix as a triumph for the entire Oxfordshire team.

He said: "I am as proud of the staff at Enstone and Viry as I am pleased for them. Giancarlo drove a fantastically-strong, controlled race and all credit to him. He has helped carry this team through some difficult times and he deserves this success more than anyone.

"Michelin gave us excellent tyres and we were confident with our race strategy."

Fisichella said the car's new aerodynamics package had made the Renault-powered car much more competitive.

He said: "It is easier to drive, easier to set up and it has much more grip than before. The race balance was great. We are expecting a new engine development at Monza and hopefully that will take us further forward still."

Teammate Jenson Button failed to finish the race at Spa-Francorchamps, after crashing out, when he clipped one of the new kerb marker cones.

Meanwhile racewinner Michael Schumacher warned his rivals he will not allow the party atmosphere in Monza to spoil his assault on the Formula 1 record books.

Despite scoring a record 52nd victory he is is in no mood to ease off in the final three races.

The four-time champion needs to win two of them to become the first driver to hit double figures in a season and break the record of nine he shares with Nigel Mansell.

He said: "I am here to enjoy myself and put the car on the limit and do the best job I can. Now we go to Monza where we will have reason to celebrate at home whatever the result.

"But we want to do well there, which I think might be more difficult as the opposition will have a strong package for that type of track."

The Grove-based Williams-BMW team duo of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, were thwarted by start-line glitches.

Montoya retired with an engine failure just after the re-start, while Ralf Schumacher was seventh.

Leafield-based Orange Arrows drivers Jos Verstappen finished tenth and Enrique Bernoldi was 12th.