‘It wasn’t the easiest of races’ – Lewis Hamilton cruises to victory in Belgian Grand Prix
- Six-times world champion is just two short of former Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91
- Briton extends his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship as he wins his fourth race of the season
Lewis Hamilton, starting from pole, led every lap of the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday as he cruised to his fourth victory in the last five races of this season.
Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was second, 8.448 seconds behind, and Max Verstappen of Red Bull was third. The top three were in the same order throughout the race.
“It wasn’t the easiest of races,” said reigning champion Hamilton. “I had a lock up into Turn 5 which started to give a bit of vibration and the tyre temps were slowly dropping. It was a bit of a struggle but nonetheless I think it was OK. I was a little nervous we might have something like at Silverstone with the tyre so I was nursing it.”
Hamilton added: “I am 35 going towards 36 but I feel better than ever. That is a positive and I am really grateful to the team.”
The Renault pair, Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon, were fourth and fifth.
Hamilton’s latest win lifted him 47 points clear of Verstappen in the overall standings after 10 of this season’s 17 races. Bottas closed the gap to Verstappen but remained third.
The race was preceded by a minute’s silence and an anti-racism demonstration by the Formula One drivers and teams before the singing of the national anthem and the race.