Lewis Hamilton wins Belgian Grand Prix

Crunch Sports Staff
in Motorsports 25 Aug 2021

Lewis Hamilton (credit: JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton extended his lead at the top of the Formula One Drivers’ Championship by winning Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

A sixth Grand Prix win of the season meant that Hamilton now has a 28-point advantage over his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, who finished second.

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean came third, securing his first podium finish of the season following Sebastian Vettel falling out of contention with rear tyre failure with just two laps to go.

Hamilton had secured pole on Saturday – his 10th in 11 races – and was in control in Belgium from the start, securing a lead on the first lap that he never looked likely to relinquish.

Sergio Perez of Force India was another to begin well, threatening briefly as Rosberg started back in fifth.

He got back into second at the first round of pit stops and, though he put pressure on Hamilton midway through the race, never got into a realistic position to overtake and Hamilton had a two-second lead at the chequered flag.

It leaves the Brit on 227 points in the drivers’ championship, with Rosberg on 199, 28 behind, and Vettel a further 39 points further back after the tyre problems meant he finished 12th.

Hamilton spoke of his delight at the win but refused to say that he was closing in on the world title.

“It is way too early to say that. Key is turning poles into wins and hopefully today is the beginning of that,” he said.

“We have had such a great crowd here this weekend. The whole circuit has been packed out with the fans. Incredible job done by the team throughout the weekend. Today was a dream and the car was fantastic all weekend.”