Hamilton started from 21st on the grid as a result of power unit penalties, with Toto Wolff expecting a hard race for the championship leader as Mercedes had struggled with its tyres throughout the weekend.
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Hamilton, whose paternal grandparents are Grenadian, started in 21st place on the grid, after a raft of engine penalties resulting from failures early in the season.
Rosberg used a fourth fourth ICE and turbocharger at the Belgian Grand Prix while also taking a third MGU-H and MGU-K.
“In general, yes, I had everything under control”, Rosberg told reporters.
Nico Rosberg was handed a much-needed break in the Formula One title battle which he duly converted by winning Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, but victory could have tasted much sweeter for the German.
By contrast, Rosberg, who took his fourth power unit of the year in Spa, has two engines to see him through the remaining eight races, although he may benefit from an upgrade around the Japanese Grand Prix. “I don’t know what happened, I haven’t looked at the details, but for sure he must have done a great job”.
At one stage after Magnusson’s crash and the red flag reset the race, Hamilton appeared to have the chance of an unlikely victory. “Seriously?’ I didn’t know until after the race where he was”.
Rosberg, runner-up to Hamilton in 2014 and a year ago, opened the season with four wins in the first four races. I came the Belgium Grand Prix wanting to win it and the opposition was unusually close this weekend.
From being 19 points in front before the race, Hamilton was only nine ahead – but that was a triumph for the champion given that he had taken three new power-units and collected a total of 60 penalty places for the grid.
“I’m just very happy, a flawless weekend for me”.
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However as things turned out, a number of incidents and some luck saw Hamilton finish just 12 seconds shy of Ricciardo to claim the final podium spot and ensure he remains at the head of the championship standings. “I don’t think it’s going to make a big difference anymore, after this”.
