Lewis Hamilton dedicates the pole of the Belgian Grand Prix to actor Chadwick Boseman

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Lewis Hamilton dedicated the 93rd pole position of his career to Chadwick Boseman, the Black Panther star whose death was announced on Saturday.

Hamilton, who revealed that he partied with the American actor at the 2018 Met Gala in New York, seems poised to extend his 37-point world championship lead after defeating rivals ahead of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver beat teammate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by an imperious half-second in his seemingly unstoppable march to a record-equalizing seventh world championship.

But, in the moments after posting a track record on the 19 curves that make up the 4.3-mile Spa-Francorchamps, Hamilton turned his attention to Boseman, who died at age 43 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer. .

“That was for Chad,” Hamilton said, pointing skyward from inside his Mercedes machine. “Rest in peace, friend,” he added over the radio.

Then Hamilton climbed into his black car and crossed his arms to perform the Wakanda salute, a gesture synonymous with Boseman’s role in the critically acclaimed 2018 film.

“Today is a really important pole for me because I woke up to the saddest news of Chadwick’s passing,” said Hamilton.

“It has been such a heavy year and that news really broke me. It wasn’t easy to refocus with that in my heart.

“But I wanted to go out and drive perfectly because of what Chad has done for our people. It was such a bright light. “

In the hours leading up to qualifying, Hamilton lit a candle in memory of the American, who became the first high-profile black superhero in the Marvel movie franchise.

“I was very lucky to meet him and tell him how amazing he was,” said Hamilton, 35. “When I was a kid, Superman was the hero. He didn’t look like me, but I still thought he was the best.

“So when Chad became the King of Wakanda, it was such a special day for so many people. I know young black men can look up to him and see that now it is possible to do what he did.

“I am a huge Marvel fan. Knowing what Hollywood has been like for a long, long time, and seeing the first black superhero, everyone was very proud.

Seeing him do it, and being such a powerful figure in the Avengers world, it was amazing, it was inspiring. His legacy will always live on. “

Hamilton is leaving his own legacy in Formula One and British sport. His lap from pole here was another clear display of brilliance that will see him match Michael Schumacher’s championship run this year.

In fact, an 89th career win on Sunday will move him within just two of Schumacher’s win record.

Schumacher has won 72 times and amassed a quintet of titles while driving for Ferrari, but these are gloomy days for the great German’s former team.

After Sebastian Vettel ended up rooted at the foot of the times in final practice on Saturday morning, Ferrari had been looking at one of the most humiliating afternoons in the Italian team’s long history.

<figcaption class=Sebastian Vettel will start on the grid in 14th place at Spa (Francois Lenoir / AP) “>
Sebastian Vettel will start on the grid in 14th place at Spa (Francois Lenoir / AP)

Against all odds, both Scarlet cars survived the embarrassment of being knocked out in Q1. Leclerc, who won here from pole last year, will start 13th, one place ahead of his teammate Vettel.

“Hell, there’s not much else I can do,” a dejected Leclerc said on the radio.

Ferrari has led the challenge to Mercedes in recent seasons, but they have suffered following an FIA investigation into the engine they used last year.

<figcaption class=Ferrari had problems in Belgium (Lars Baron / AP) “>
Ferrari had problems in Belgium (Lars Baron / AP)

In fact, it shows how far the sport’s most successful team has fallen that blocking the seventh row of the grid will be considered a reasonable result.

More questions will be asked of embattled team boss Mattia Binotto at his home race at Monza next weekend, and his 1,000th Grand Prix at Mugello seven days later.

Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo lines up in fourth place. British driver Lando Norris qualified 10th for McLaren.



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