RT Hamilton: I’ll do it back to front
Relief for Yates
LEWIS HAMILTON aims to make history on Sunday by winning the Belgian Grand Prix to notch a 50th career victory, despite an engine penalty sending him to the back of the field.
No driver has ever won from last on the grid, with the penalty equating to a 20-place handicap under the sport’s complex engine rules.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team weighed up whether to take the penalty – which has been looming over the world champion since he encountered a number of mechanical problems during the opening rounds of the season – this week or at next Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.
Both circuits are expected to offer him the best chance of fighting back through the field but he has SIMON YATES put a traumatic season behind him by soloing to victory in the sixth stage of the Vuelta a Espana.
The British OricaBikeExchange rider was banned for four months and missed the Tour de France having tested positive for Terbutaline after his team failed to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption.
But yesterday, his year finally took a turn for the better as he managed to win his first Vuelta stage, breaking away just less decided to plump for Spa as the sport returns to action after its mid-season break.
Hamilton, who leads Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg by 19 points after winning the past four races, said: “In terms of winning, that is the goal. But it is going to be very, very hard.
“I will do everything I can to minimise the impact the penalty will have, and beyond that I plan to continue with the momentum I had before the break.”
John Watson, the Belfast-born former McLaren driver, holds the record for winning from the lowest starting position after taking the 1983 US Grand Prix from 22nd on the grid out of 26. than 4km from the finish in Luintra and crossing the line 20 seconds clear. “I’m really happy I managed to grab my opportunity there at the finish,” said Yates, 24. “I timed my attack to perfection – it wasn’t planned, we just wanted to make it a tough race.” Team Sky’s Chris Froome remains in third place overall, 32 seconds behind race leader Darwin Atapuma of BMC.