HAMILTON EDGES CLOSER
Mercedes ace wins fifth race of season
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
LEWIS Hamilton completed his 200th Grand Prix in victorious style yesterday when he claimed a much-needed win for Mercedes to trim Sebastian Vettel’s championship lead to seven points.
The 32-year-old Briton made the most of his recordequalling 68th pole position to take the lead, but had to survive some concerted attacks from Vettel’s Ferrari before emerging triumphant for the fifth time this season.
It was the three-time world champion’s third Belgian victory and the 58th of his career, lifting him back into serious contention for the title.
Another victory in next Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix could give him the lead for the first time this year.
Four-time champion Vettel came home second ahead of Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull, Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari and his compatriot Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes.
“It’s been a strong weekend for myself and the team,” said Hamilton.
“Sebastian put up a great fight, but this is what I said I came to do here and so I did it.”
Vettel said: “It was good fun, but it was intense. I was waiting for Lewis to make a mistake — and he didn’t — and he was waiting for me — and I didn’t. “We did a lot better than at Silverstone. And next week is our home race... a good day overall.”
After an emotional demonstration lap by Mick Schumacher, 18, to mark the 25th anniversary of his father Michael’s maiden victory at the 1992 Belgian race, there was a keen sense of anticipation ahead of the start.
Meanwhile, Bottas is set to stay at champions Mercedes next season with only small details remaining to be signed off, according to team boss Toto Wolff.
“It’s a no-brainer as it stands for next year to continue with Valtteri,” the Austrian told reporters at the Belgian Grand Prix after Ferrari confirmed Sebastian Vettel had signed a threeyear contract extension.
That news ended speculation that the German, who would have been out of contract at the end of the season, could switch to Mercedes.
“It’s just down to the nitty-gritty details and the paperwork and see how it pans out in the future,” said Wolff of Bottas’s situation. “There’s a pretty big chance he will be here next year.” Agencies