Formula One: Hamilton beats Rosberg to Belgian prize
August 23, 2015
World champion Lewis Hamilton extended his lead in the overall standings with his sixth win of the season on Sunday, taking the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps two seconds ahead of Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg. The 30-year-old Briton, whose previous win in Belgium was in 2010 when with McLaren, has now extended his lead over Rosberg to 28 points with eight races remaining.
Behind Mercedes' seventh one-two this season, was Frenchman Romain Grosjean in a Lotus for his 10th career podium finish but first since the USA Grand Prix in 2013. Ferrari failed to fire on their 900th race as the team paid the price of running Sebastian Vettel on a one-stop strategy when his tire blew on the penultimate lap, denying him a podium finish.
Starting from his 10th pole position of the season and sixth in succession, Hamilton was in control throughout and his 80th podium finish equaled the mark of the late great Ayrton Senna.
Russian Daniil Kvyat followed up his podium finish in Hungary with a bold drive to fourth for Red Bull ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India, Brazilian Felipe Massa of Williams and Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari. Local hero Dutch teenager Max Verstappen thrilled his fans in a big crowd by driving from 16th on the grid to take eighth place for Toro Rosso ahead of Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Swede Marcus Ericsson of Sauber.
jh/apc (AP, Reuters)