Lewis Hamilton stretched his lead within the drivers’ world championship and closed to inside two wins of Michael Schumacher’s Components One report of 91 on Sunday with an impressive, if finally tense, Belgian Grand Prix victory. The sequence chief and six-time champion registered his 89th profession win with one other flawless drive to take his fourth Belgian triumph, ending eight.448 seconds away from his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
It was Hamilton’s fifth win in seven races this yr and prolonged his report run of points-scoring races to 40.
Max Verstappen got here third for Crimson Bull, seven seconds additional adrift, to say his sixth podium end in succession.
Hamilton, who needed to nurse his automobile house on worn tyres, has 157 factors within the title race, 47 away from Verstappen. The ‘black arrows’ lead the constructors’ championship with 264 factors, properly forward of Crimson Bull on 158.
“It wasn’t the simplest of races,” stated Hamilton. “It was a little bit of a wrestle, however nonetheless I feel it was okay in the long run.”
On the British Grand Prix at the beginning of August, Hamilton had clung on to win after one in every of his tyres disintegrated.
“I used to be involved that we would have a situation like Silverstone, however the tyre appeared to have fairly a little bit of rubber left on it on the end.”
Bottas admitted he couldn’t match his team-mate’s tempo.
“The beginning was a great alternative, however Lewis performed it rather well and I simply could not catch him. In the identical automobile, with Lewis driving a flawless race, it was actually tough.”
Verstappen stated he had a uninteresting afternoon.
“It was fairly boring, not very attention-grabbing and never a lot to do,” he stated. “I ran out of tyre on the finish so I used to be simply stretching it out and saving the tyres.”
Daniel Ricciardo produced the quickest lap on his closing lap as he claimed fourth forward of his Renault team-mate Esteban Ocon, and Alex Albon, within the second Crimson Bull.
Lando Norris was seventh within the sole McLaren.
Pierre Gasly completed eighth for Alpha Tauri forward of the Racing Factors of Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez. On a troubled weekend, final yr’s winner Charles Leclerc was 14th, one place behind outgoing Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel.
Drama and ceremony
On a cool dry day within the Ardennes, the race was preceded by drama and ceremony with Carlos Sainz’s McLaren struggling an exhaust failure that dominated him out after which a minute’s silence, in reminiscence of French F2 racer Anthoine Hubert, and the now-familiar drivers’ anti-racism demonstration earlier than the nationwide anthem.
Hamilton made a clean begin from his report 93rd pole place forward of Bottas whereas Verstappen fought to defend third place in opposition to Ricciardo.
Bottas chased Hamilton in useless, the champion controlling his benefit with imperious pace within the early laps as they pulled away from the remainder.
“We’ve got one push now?” requested Bottas.
“Sure, however we agreed to not use it in opposition to one another,” replied Mercedes.
“I’ve by no means heard of that,” replied the clearly miffed Finn, who had stated on Saturday that he would assault his team-mate to maintain alive his personal title bid.
The protection automobile got here out on lap 11 after a collision involving Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi and George Russell of Williams. The Italian spun into the obstacles in entrance of the Briton whose automobile was hit by an errant rear wheel as he took evasive motion.
The broken vehicles left particles strewn throughout the circuit, however the drivers walked away unharmed.
“I am okay,” stated Russell on crew radio. “Nowhere I might go, guys.”
Promoted
The leaders pitted instantly, Bottas solely simply returning forward of Verstappen after a gradual cease. Ferrari appeared unready when Leclerc pitted, one other problem in a bleak weekend that noticed their drivers bump wheels in a scrap for 12th.
After the re-start, Bottas closed to nine-tenths briefly, on lap 17, however Hamilton raised his tempo and was gone.
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