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 at Spa-Francorchamps yesterday.
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 2.058 seconds clear of the German.
Hamilton now has 227 points and Rosberg 199.
Photo: EPA
His 80th podium finish equaled the mark of the late great Ayrton Senna.
German four-time champion Sebastian Vettel looked likely to finish third for Ferrari, in their 900th Grand Prix race, until he suffered a right rear tire 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.
Photo: Reuters
It was Grosjean’s first podium of the season for the troubled Lotus team, which is facing severe financial problems off the track, and his first podium since the 2013 US Grand Prix.
Russia’s Daniil Kvyat followed up his podium finish in Hungary with a bold drive to fourth for Red Bull ahead of Mexico’s Sergio Perez of Force India, Brazil’s Felipe Massa of Williams and Finland’s 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 Finland’s Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson of Sauber.
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