Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton won the Belgian Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday to stretch his lead over Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg to 28 points with eight races remaining. PHOTO: AFP
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS: Defending two-time world champion Lewis Hamilton extended his lead in this year’s title race to 28 points when he claimed a near-flawless victory ahead of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in the Belgian Grand Prix.
Starting from his 10th pole position of the season and sixth in succession, the 30-year-old Briton dominated with some ease as he finished a controlled 2.058sec clear of the German. Hamilton now has 227 points and Rosberg 199.
It was Hamilton’s second victory at the Belgian race, having won for McLaren in 2010, his sixth of the season and the 39th of his career. It was also his 80th podium, equalling the mark of the late great Brazilian Ayrton Senna.
“Thank you guys, what a great job,” said Hamilton from his cockpit. “I am so happy with that. Thank you.”
He added, from the podium, that it was too soon to talk about winning the drivers’ championship.
Rosberg, whose wife Vivian is due to give birth to their first child at any time, said he was keen to get home, but added: “Lewis did a great job and he deserved to win.”
Four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel, in his 150th race, looked likely to finish third for Ferrari, in their 900th Grand Prix race, until he suffered a right rear tyre failure on the penultimate lap, as the team risked running him on a one-stop strategy.
That spectacular incident ensured that Frenchman Romain Grosjean, who had mounted a thrilling attack for Lotus in the final laps, took third place in an enthralling race.
It was Grosjean’s first podium of the season for the troubled Lotus team, which has faced severe financial problems, and his first podium since the 2013 US Grand Prix.
Russian Daniil Kvyat followed up his podium finish in Hungary with a bold drive to fourth for Red Bull ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India, Brazilian Felipe Massa of Williams and Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari.
Local hero Dutch teenager Max Verstappen thrilled his fans in a big crowd by driving from 16th on the grid to take eighth place for Toro Rosso ahead of Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Swede Marcus Ericsson of Sauber.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2015.
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