Hamilton back from beach for title tilt

THREE-TIME world champion Lewis Hamilton will start his 200th grand prix in Belgium this weekend, seeking to match German legend Michael Schumacher’s record of 68 pole positions.

With the summer break out of the way, the British driver will be chasing his fifth win of the season as he bids to claw back points on title-race leader, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, of Ferrari.

Back in Europe after spend- ing F1’s now-traditional European summer break in the Caribbean, Hamilton, who gave up third for his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in Hungary, lies 14 points behind Vettel.

He won at Spa in 2015, but was beaten by teammate and 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg last year and has had mixed results at the famous high-speed circuit.

In 2008, when he won his first title, he was relegated from first to third for cutting a chicane, and he has suffered in other incidents, including a collision with Rosberg that left him with a puncture in 2014.

Seeking his third Belgian win, Hamilton will be the prerace favourite, but he knows Ferrari has regained the momentum in the title race following its dominant onetwo finish led by Vettel in Hungary.

Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff has already warned his squad not to take anything for granted.

“Assumptions are dangerous,” Wolff said. “We have seen too many times already this season that the form book can be rewritten from one weekend to the next.

“So we will be making no assumptions.”

The race may also be affected — as often in the past — by the capricious micro-climate of the region, which can mean parts of the track are under water in rainfall while others remain dry.

That, for Max Verstappen, may be a bonus as he bids to put a mixed season to date back on the road.

“I just love the track and it’ll be nice seeing so many orange fans in the stands,” said Red Bull’s Belgium-born Dutch driver.

“Spa is my favourite track — you have to get everything right, but when you get a good lap, it’s very rewarding.”