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The Mercedes driver extends his title lead to 47 points with a traffic light victory over Bottas and Verstappen; Ferrari finishes 13th and 14th to crown miserable Spa weekend; Big accident for Alfa Romeo’s Giovinazzi sent wheel to Russell’s Williams
By James Galloway
Last Updated: 08/30/20 4:16 pm
Lewis Hamilton ended Mercedes’ three-year wait for another victory at Spa-Francorchamps with a supreme push towards his 89th career victory at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Hamilton led from start to finish to defeat his teammate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to extend their championship lead to 47 points, almost the equivalent of two career victories.
The six-time champion is now just two wins away from Michael Schumacher’s all-time winning record, which could be equaled in two races in the 1,000th anniversary race for Ferrari, the team with which the great German set the milestone.
But Ferrari has far bigger concerns than losing a prestigious record right now.
The famous Scuderia had won the previous two Belgian GPs, but this time there was no point consolation for them this time in a weekend of humility for the rapidly falling F1 giants.
0:34 The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel are close to connecting as they battle for 13th and 14th position at Spa
Sebastian Vettel was 13th and Charles Leclerc 14th, with teammates even hitting wheels as they battled for position outside of the points.
But it was a great race, and a great result, for Renault.
Daniel Ricciardo finished fourth, even taking the fastest lap bonus point with a fantastic loading effort on loop 44 and final, with Esteban Ocon fifth after a last-lap pass over Red Bull’s Alex Albon.
1:38 Daniel Ricciardo felt that his fourth place in qualifying was an impressive result before the Belgian GP.
Although outscored by Renault, Lando Norris took a good seventh place in what turned out to be the only McLaren in the race after Carlos Sainz was ruled out before the start with an exhaust problem in his McLaren.
The leading riders were forced to control their tires until the very end after the only pit stops were triggered ahead of schedule following a major accident involving Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi and Williams’ George Russell.
Giovinazzi crashed into the outer barriers at the fast Fagnes corner and, with the rear wheel of his car loose as he crossed the track, the unfortunate oncoming Russell couldn’t help himself and also pulled his car out of the race.
1:27 Antonio Giovinazzi hits the barrier on the right side of the track at Spa, with his wheel flying and heading into the path of George Russell’s car.
The safety car timing initially seemed inopportune for Pierre Gasly, who had had a spectacular start to the race, including a breathless pass from Sergio Perez at mighty Eau Rouge, despite starting on the slower and longer-lasting medium tires.
The AlphaTauri, along with Perez, stayed out of the safety car and inevitably lost a lot of ground when it was finally stopped for tires after the group closed. But the fit Frenchman recovered well from there, passing the two Racing Points later to secure a good eighth place.
0:28 Pierre Gasly is very close to Sergio Pérez on the first lap at Spa.
Belgian GP Result: Top 10
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Renault
5. Esteban Ocon, Renault
6. Alexander Albon, Red Bull
7. Lando Norris, McLaren
8. Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
9. Lance Stroll, Racing Point
10. Sergio Pérez, Racing Point
2:05 Lewis Hamilton takes pole on the first lap of the Belgian GP.
Hamilton in a league of their own, again
“We’re running out of superlatives for him,” admitted Sky F1’s Karun Chandhok after the conclusion of the six-time champion’s final tour de force for a fourth win at the sport’s most legendary track.
Pole position has at times proven to be a poisoned goblet for drivers as it makes them vulnerable when towing down the long Kemmel Straight to Les Combes on the first lap. However, Hamilton conclusively took advantage of his early lead over Bottas and never seemed really threatened on the uphill run to Les Combes.
He didn’t really seem threatened all afternoon, despite a brief drop in power and then concerns about tire handling late in the race on the first attempt.
However, after the earlier than ideal first stops, Hamilton admitted that he experienced some nerves late in the race on his hard tires, several weeks after the late puncture that nearly cost him victory at the British GP.
“It was a bit difficult. I was nervous that we would have another situation like Silverstone!” Hamilton admitted.
“It’s not necessarily what everyone always wants to see in the Mercedes up front, but we just keep our heads down. It’s an incredible mentality to work with and we keep learning about the car.”
More to follow …
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