Hamilton in good cheer
BELGIAN GRAND PRIX: DEFENDING CHAMPION HAS A GOOD RECORD HERE
Lewis Hamilton has reasons to be happy as Formula One regroups in Belgium with plenty of developments to digest after an August break punctuated by headline-grabbing moves and announcements.
Spa has been good to the Mercedes man in recent years and last season the Briton celebrated a win that set him on a run of success which ended in a fourth title.
This time he returns with a 24-point lead over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, compared to a 14-point deficit last time around.
“The second half (of the season) is always exciting and intense, particularly when we go to the long hauls,” Hamilton said after winning in Hungary last month.
With nine races left, the championship could still swing either way and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is making no predictions.
“If this season has taught us one thing, it’s that there are no clear favourites for specific tracks anymore and it’s not always the fastest car that wins,” he said in a preview for tomorrow’s race.
Ferrari will also fancy their chances, with their car showing plenty of pace and Kimi Raikkonen on the brink of a milestone 100th podium after finishing in the top three in his last five races.
The 38-year-old Finn is a fourtimes winner at Spa, including Ferrari’s most recent victory at the long, sweeping circuit that represents one of the greatest challenges for any racing driver.
Raikkonen’s future is also in the spotlight after a summer flurry of driver moves, including double world champion Fernando Alonso’s decision to leave Formula One at the end of the year.
Sauber’s Monegasque Charles Leclerc is strongly tipped to step up to Ferrari but Raikkonen could still find a home elsewhere.
Despite the August factory shutdowns, the break was less of a lull than usual with Australian Daniel Ricciardo triggering a shockwave with his decision to leave Red Bull for Renault in 2019.
That was followed by Spaniard Carlos Sainz moving from Renault to McLaren, following that team’s Alonso announcement, and Red Bull confirming Pierre Gasly as Ricciardo’s successor. – Reuters