Lewis Hamilton pressed home his challenge for this year's drivers' world championship in emphatic style on Sunday when he won a dramatic and incident-filled Belgian Grand Prix. The 2008 champion, in his McLaren, took the lead at the start and then controlled the 44-laps race through two safety car periods and some perilous weather conditions on his way to victory. It was his first win in Belgium, his third win this season and the 15th of his career in his 64th Grand Prix.
It not only boosted his title hopes but also made up for his disappointment in 2008 when, after finishing first, he was deprived of victory by a controversial stewards' decision. Hamilton rode his luck when he had to in the capricious conditions and came home a clear winner, 1.5 seconds ahead of Australian Mark Webber of Red Bull and 3.4 beyond third-placed Pole Robert Kubica.
The only scare for the Briton was when he slithered off into the gravel in the closing stages. McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh reflected: "Lewis drove a fantastic race. There was just one excursion which was a little heart stopping but apart from that he was in command right from the start." Webber, who fought back after dropping to sixth after a poor start, paid tribute to his arch rival. "Lewis did a great job," said the Australian. Hamilton now has 182 points and leads the championship ahead of Webber, who began the day as the leader, now second on 179 points.
German Sebastian Vettel, Webber's Red Bull team-mate, remains third on 151 points after failing to score along with two other title hopefuls - defending champion Jenson Button, in the second McLaren, and two-times champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. Vettel finished 15th after an impetuous drive filled with incident during which he crashed into the luckless Button and sent the Englishman into retirement in a controversial accident after 17 laps.
Alonso, who struggled in the conditions, also retired after spinning his car out at Malmedy in the third heavy rain shower of a contest riddled with chaotic moments. Hamilton's triumph meant he joined a special group of champion drivers including fellow-Britons Jim Clark and Damon Hill, Brazilian Ayrton Senna, German Michael Schumacher and Finn Kimi Raikkonen to have stamped their authority on one of Formula One's most famous and demanding tracks. There was to be no celebration however for Formula One's most experienced driver, Rubens Barrichello, whose 300th race lasted only as far as the Bus Stop Chicane on the opening lap when he shunted into Alonso and had to retire.
It not only boosted his title hopes but also made up for his disappointment in 2008 when, after finishing first, he was deprived of victory by a controversial stewards' decision. Hamilton rode his luck when he had to in the capricious conditions and came home a clear winner, 1.5 seconds ahead of Australian Mark Webber of Red Bull and 3.4 beyond third-placed Pole Robert Kubica.
The only scare for the Briton was when he slithered off into the gravel in the closing stages. McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh reflected: "Lewis drove a fantastic race. There was just one excursion which was a little heart stopping but apart from that he was in command right from the start." Webber, who fought back after dropping to sixth after a poor start, paid tribute to his arch rival. "Lewis did a great job," said the Australian. Hamilton now has 182 points and leads the championship ahead of Webber, who began the day as the leader, now second on 179 points.
German Sebastian Vettel, Webber's Red Bull team-mate, remains third on 151 points after failing to score along with two other title hopefuls - defending champion Jenson Button, in the second McLaren, and two-times champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. Vettel finished 15th after an impetuous drive filled with incident during which he crashed into the luckless Button and sent the Englishman into retirement in a controversial accident after 17 laps.
Alonso, who struggled in the conditions, also retired after spinning his car out at Malmedy in the third heavy rain shower of a contest riddled with chaotic moments. Hamilton's triumph meant he joined a special group of champion drivers including fellow-Britons Jim Clark and Damon Hill, Brazilian Ayrton Senna, German Michael Schumacher and Finn Kimi Raikkonen to have stamped their authority on one of Formula One's most famous and demanding tracks. There was to be no celebration however for Formula One's most experienced driver, Rubens Barrichello, whose 300th race lasted only as far as the Bus Stop Chicane on the opening lap when he shunted into Alonso and had to retire.
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ReplyDeleteIn World grand Prix race one of the most best player is...Lewis Hamilton and recetnly he won the chaotic Belgian Grand Prix....Congrats
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