Hamilton eyes Schumi’s record in 200th Grand Prix

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 F1’s traditional European summer break over, the British driver will be chasing his fifth win of the season as he bids to claw back points on the title-race leader, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, of Ferrari.

Hamilton, who gave up third for his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in Hungary, lies 14 points behind Vettel.

Hamilton 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 sprawling, 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 pre-race favourite but knows Ferrari have regained the momentum in the title race following their dominant one-two finish led by Vettel in Hungary.

Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff has already warned his squad not to take anything for granted, saying assumptions are dangerous.

The race may also be affected by the region’s capricious micro-climate, which can mean parts of the track are under rain 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,” Red Bull’s Belgium-born Dutch driver said.

Stoffel Vandoorne will hope to mark his retention by McLaren with a strong showing in front of his home fans. – AFP