Hamilton dances rings around Vettel in the rain

LEWIS HAMILTON struck another blow to Sebastian Vettel in their battle for the world championship after reigning supreme in the wet for today’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Championship leader Hamilton put his Mercedes on pole position with another commanding qualifying display in torrid conditions.

Following mistakes on his first two laps, Hamilton was facing a lowly grid slot on the sport’s return to action following the summer break.

But the 33-year-old British driver pulled out a lap from nowhere to finish an eyewatering 0.726 seconds clear of his rival Vettel.

The German driver, who is 24 points behind Hamilton, attempted to put a brave face on Hamilton’s emphatic display, but he will be left thinking of what might have been.

Ferrari had held a clear advantage over Mercedes in the dry. Indeed, Hamilton had failed to trouble the top of the time sheets at any stage of the weekend until the dying moments of an unpredictable qualifying session.

‘That was one of the hardest sessions that I can remember,’ Hamilton said after a record fifth pole at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit. ‘I cannot find the words to express how difficult it was.

‘When it rains, it is horrible and it is not the case that I love it. It was absolutely terrifying for all of us because we were tiptoeing around.

‘I had the pace, and I am so glad I managed to keep it together on that last lap.’