Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

HAMILTON: THAT WAS FOR CHAD ...HE MADE ALL OF US SUPERHEROE­S

Hamilton insists runaway success won’t turn heads back at the office

- BY MATT MALTBY

LEWIS HAMILTON proved once again why he is F1’s own superhero as he stormed to the 89th victory of his career in Belgium.

An emotional Hamilton celebrated atop his Mercedes while performing the Wakanda salute from Black Panther in tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman. The

ANOTHER day, another routine win for Lewis Hamilton in what is becoming an increasing­ly one-sided season.

This time it was the iconic Spa-francorcha­mps course deep in the glorious Ardennes forest which the Briton conquered.

The Mercedes star led every lap from pole to claim a fifth win this season in his pursuit of a recordequa­lling seventh world title.

And this latest victory, the 89th of his glittering career, moves him two from Michael Schumacher’s all-time record in a race which saw fellow Briton George Russell avoid a serious crash.

Hamilton said: “I know it is not what everyone wants to see – a

Mercedes at the front – but no matter how much success we have we just keep our heads down.

“Back at the office, there are no guys celebratin­g. It is all about how we can win the next race.

“I am 35 going towards 36, but I feel better than ever.”

Perhaps not what Hamilton’s rivals want to hear, with the Briton showing no signs of slowing down.

But despite the dominant nature of the win, the six-time world champ had fears his tyres would deny him the triumph.

“It wasn’t the easiest of races,” Hamilton said. “I had a lock-up into turn five which gave me a vibration on the tyre. It was a bit of a struggle.

“I was nervous we might have a scenario like Silverston­e where I had the puncture, so I was nursing it to the end.” It was a largely incident free grand prix, though Russell, 22, was fortunate to escape unscathed after his Williams was hit by Antonio Giovinazzi’s wheel when he crashed out.

However Hamilton managed to avoid any trouble, and will now head to Ferrari’s home race at Monza this weekend. He takes with him a mighty 47-point lead over Red Bull racer Max Verstappen, who came in third behind Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas.

But the Dutchman was less than impressed and said: “It was pretty boring. Not much to do.

“I couldn’t keep up with them when they started pushing. The last eight laps I was just backing it out and saving the tyres.” Boring perhaps, but Hamilton will have few complaints.

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