Lewis starting at the back made it a lot easier and I’m sure he will back at Monza (for next week’s Italian Grand Prix).’ For Hamilton, who had taken grid penalties after several engine component changes, third place was akin to a victory.
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Mercedes and Hamilton had come to accept that Hamilton would be forced to take grid penalties at some point during this season, and so the team opted to fit many new components to the auto during practice this weekend. “It was a great weekend that ended with a wonderful race”.
Nico Rosberg returned to the top step of the podium, winning the first race after the summer break, the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. “Seriously?’ But I didn’t know until after the race where he was”.
Rosberg took victory with his first ever Belgian GP win, starting from pole and somewhat easing to victory, leaving the manic goings-on in his rear view.
“[P5 after the red flag] I didn’t see”, Rosberg said.
“I’m all up for fair battles and close racing”, an exasperated Raikkonen said after the race, adding that Verstappen’s racing style is “not correct” because his aggressive driving could have caused a “big accident”.
Soaring temperatures proved problematic for a number of drivers, with Rosberg and Hamilton among those to report issues with their tyres as a result.
“We know already the medium and the softs are the best tyres”.
“I’m just very happy it was a ideal weekend for me”.
The incidents continued throughout the opening laps, until finally a Safety Car was deployed on Lap 6 when Kevin Magnussen crashed hard into the wall exiting Raidillon.
“I’m feeling great, it was a ideal result”, he said. Then after it was just trying to recover and then I guess with the Virtual Safety Car and [actual] Safety Car people were stopping during those times.
The incident involving Magnussen capped a remarkable start to F1’s first race since the summer break – but Hamilton was unruffled and emerged in podium contention by the time the safety auto had been called.
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Despite his surprise, Rosberg insists he does not feel disappointed that he is leaving Belgium having only taken ten points out of Hamilton’s championship lead. “Then I saw Kimi so I avoided that, had a big lift [off the throttle] and was like “let those guys go”.
