Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany, center, winner, celebrates on the podium with Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia, second left, second place, and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, third place, at the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016.
Advertisement
Hamilton took a 55-place grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix, which meant he started the race from the final row of the grid.
The race was halted in the early stages when Dane Kevin Magnussen crashed heavily, but he limped away from his wrecked Renault auto with only a damaged ankle.
The safety auto was initially deployed, but damage sustained to the tyre barrier meant the race was suspended to allow for further repairs.
Officials deployed first the safety auto then the red flag as marshals worked to fix the damage.
With victory in the grand prix, Rosberg has slashed Hamilton’s lead in the championship standings by 10 points to leave a nine-point gap separating the championship rivals but, after starting from the back and a problematic pit stop, Hamilton was elated with his damage limiting performance.
The German triumphed in the first four races of the year, before Briton Hamilton won six of the last eight.
Hamilton’s damage limitation operation was substantially abetted by a first-lap collision that effectively took Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen out of contention for a podium finish along with five retirements across an unruly opening half-dozen laps followed by a 20-minute stoppage after a horror crash for Renault’s Kevin Magnussen. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen tried to fit his auto inside the two Ferraris of Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel on the first lap, taking all three away from the front of the pack.
“If I had not braked, we would have had a massive accident”, said the Finn.
With the win, Rosberg managed to cut into Hamilton’s lead.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo took home the second-place trophy. “So to come away with the points that we have today, I’m extremely proud of everyone”.
‘Congratulation to Lewis. From last to third must have been pretty impressive.
Hulkenberg had to stay content with fourth place, his best ever F1 result, while Sergio Perez took fifth place, which ensured Force India moved ahead of Williams, taking fourth in the constructors championship.
“It’s been great to get the win today, but Lewis starting at the back made it easier for me”, said Rosberg.
“It was a great race, and there was a great atmosphere thanks to these fans”.
Advertisement
“I am so happy to win here in Spa at this legendary track”, said Rosberg.
