Hamilton still targets victory

Championship leader will start from back of the grid

Lewis Hamilton insists winning the Belgian Grand Prix remains his goal despite an engine penalty sending him to the back of the field on Formula One’s return to action after its mid-season break.

The disastrous penalty, which is expected to equate to a 20-place grid drop under the sport’s complex engine rules, has been looming over the world champion after he encountered a number of mechanical problems during the opening rounds of the season.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team had been weighing up whether to take the penalty here or at next week’s Italian Grand Prix, with both circuits expected to offer Hamilton the best chance of fighting back through the field.

But Hamilton, who leads his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg by 19 points in the championship by virtue of winning the last four races before the summer break, confirmed yesterday he will take the penalty this weekend.

No driver in the history of the sport has ever won from last on the grid. John Watson, the Belfast-born former McLaren driver, holds the record of winning from the lowest start slot after lining up in 22nd on the grid of 26 competitors before winning the 1983 United States Grand Prix at Long Beach.

But Hamilton, who arrived at a sunblazed Spa-Francorchamps paddock flanked by his pet dogs, is still confident he can deliver what would surely rank as his finest drive.

“In terms of winning that is the goal, but it is going to be very, very hard,” said Hamilton, who is just one victory shy of 50 career wins.

“I will do everything I can to minimise the impact that the penalty will have, and beyond that I plan to continue with the momentum I had before the break.”

Picture: PA. Lewis Hamilton: has decided to take the penalty this week at Spa-Francorchamps.