Belgium – Race: Rosberg does the job… but Hamilton limits the damage!

Traditional back-to-school race after the summer break, this Belgian Grand Prix didn’t lack curiosity just a short distance from the start! This was mainly focused at both ends of the grid. At the top, Nico Rosberg had taken control in qualifying, with a narrow margin, against the local prodigy: Max Verstappen. The Ferraris occupied the second row, with the ace of Spa, Kimi Räikkönen, four successes in the Belgian Ardennes, ahead of Sebastian Vettel.

0’149″ separated the two men on the front row, who met again after the explanations from the last round at Hockenheim. But this time, almost the entire crowd was in support of the Flying Dutchman: the orange wave filled the 90,000 seats of the Spa circuit.

First explosive line, then, as you have well understood. Especially since the poleman had a great opportunity to chip away at his 19-point deficit to Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ title race. Indeed, number 44 was at the opposite end of the grid in last position, after a flurry of changes to his power unit, costing him a record penalty of 60 grid places! But the British driver is a man of challenges: his last two starts from the back of the grid have gone rather well, with a seventh place in China this year, and especially a third place at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2014.

Four positions ahead of Hamilton, French fans kept a very close eye on Esteban Ocon’s very first start in the premier discipline, driving his Manor-Mercedes.

On his way. @OconEsteban #Debut #BelgianGP 👊 pic.twitter.com/cFgrYqonIX

— Manor Racing (@ManorRacing) 28 août /f1/actualite/21257-belgique-qualifications-la-pole-pour-rosberg-verstappen-en-premiere-ligne.html

La météo elle n’allait pas épargner les machines, avec des températures toujours exceptionnelles, 26 degrees in the air against 35 degrees on the track.

At 2 p.m., it was time for the 21 drivers to head out for the longest formation lap of the season. Marcus Ericsson was indeed missing, as he couldn’t get his Sauber out before the pit lane closed. Meanwhile, the engineers were keeping a close eye on the tire temperature. As in 2015, the tension was at its peak concerning the excessively high tire pressure. Who would best manage their vehicle on this legendary but incredibly demanding track for both the mechanics and the tires?

Epic Opening Laps: Verstappen in the Eye of the Storm, Spectacular Crash for Magnussen!

Initially, there was so much movement! Too greedy, Max Verstappen tried to make up for his bad start right from the first corner at La Source. The penalty was immediate: contact on the inside of the corner with Räikkönen’s Ferrari on his left. A domino effect with catastrophic consequences for Sebastian Vettel, spun out by the touch between the two men. The three drivers plummeted in the standings.

The Dutchman was obliged to pit to change his damaged front wing, just like Räikkönen, who was once again losing many seconds when he reached his spot, with smoke even coming out of the floor of his Ferrari!

LAP 1/44: Chaos at the start for Ferrari as both drivers collide

RAI P19
VET P22#BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/k92AZFC7VR

— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 août /f1/actualite/21257-belgique-qualifications-la-pole-pour-rosberg-verstappen-en-premiere-ligne.html

On the next lap, Carlos Sainz Jr was knocked out in turn by his right rear tire, in the middle of the straight towards Les Combes. Debris flew dangerously on the track. The virtual safety car was therefore activated.

Completely crazy this GP start#BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/vJzhsSWxBw

— Nicolas (@Nico_F1_77) August 28

The ranking was completely shaken up: behind the leader Rosberg, Hülkenberg was in second place ahead of Ricciardo. They were followed by Bottas, Pérez, Grosjean, Palmer, Magnussen, Gutierrez… and Alonso, who started 21st, was back in 10th! Hamilton was in eleventh, ahead of rookie Ocon!

We were not at the end of our surprises: a shiver ran through Spa-Francorchamps with an impressive crash exiting Eau-Rouge. Kevin Magnussen was the unfortunate driver: destabilized on the curb, the Dane drifted and hit the tire wall at the exit of the corner. Fortunately, the Renault driver exited his car on his own before heading to the circuit hospital for the usual health checks, especially as he had a slight cut on his left ankle.

RENAULT 📺: “Big crash…but Kevin is ok”

Huge relief after MAG walks away from incident at Eau Rouge#BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/Z8FE1fJNXX

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 28

The safety car entered the track, and a few drivers were observing a tire change, such as Hülkenberg (3rd!), Massa, Perez, and Grosjean, with the notable exception of Rosberg, still the leader, Ricciardo, now 2nd, Alonso, and Hamilton, respectively 4th and 5th. Kimi Räikkönen was at the bottom of the standings and still had to overtake the pack and the safety car to get back on the same lap.

By the 10th lap, the red flag was even waved, and all the cars entered the pit lane to stop for a few moments, giving the marshals time to repair the barrier and protection barriers at the very spot of Magnussen’s accident. It also gave Verstappen time to discuss his start maneuver with his team and to absolve himself of any responsibility…

Five drivers were already out of the race during this race suspension. Besides Magnussen and Sainz, Ericsson, as well as Button and Wehrlein had already retired, the latter two having eliminated themselves after a collision at Les Combes on the first lap.

Lewis Hamilton already on the virtual podium at the 18th lap, Verstappen still aggressive!

About twenty minutes later, the race resumed, after a lap under the safety car. It was time to discover the new tire choices. In the lead, Rosberg and Ricciardo had switched to medium and soft tires. Hamilton took fourth place from Alonso on the Kemmel straight; until then, the English driver had made the most of the race circumstances.

Behind, Verstappen continued his dangerous, high-speed maneuvers. And always facing Kimi Räikkönen, squeezed at over 300 km/h! Iceman was on fire in his radio conversations with his engineer. But the FIA didn’t even bother to look into the matter…

More success at the same time for Vettel, climbing back into the points zone, searching for the time lost at the start. Grosjean, then Kyvat quickly succumbed to the attacks of the four-time world champion. After the madness of the first ten laps, the race resumed its cruising pace. The cameras highlighted Lewis Hamilton overtaking Nico Hülkenberg. Number 44 placed himself in the leading trio!

LAP 18/44: HAM has HUL in his sights 🎯

And he passes the German to take P3 #BelgianGP 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/cVYtOZq2jv

— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 août /f1/actualite/21257-belgique-qualifications-la-pole-pour-rosberg-verstappen-en-premiere-ligne.html

Rosberg couldn’t fall asleep, with a gap of only nine seconds over his main rival. Ricciardo was still sandwiched about three seconds from the front.

In the pack, Räikkönen continued to carve his way through, not without difficulty. After Verstappen, the Finn saw his path blocked by Grosjean, before passing on the next lap. The descent continued for the Haas driver as the halfway point of the race was crossed.

Cap which launched a wave of tire changes, initiated by Hamilton. The Mercedes driver lost a few precious seconds in this stop after a problem with the rear jack. The pit stops were certainly eventful as the McLaren team released Alonso right in front of Nico Hülkenberg.

Conservative, Räikkönen rejoined the race with medium tires, on his only available set for the weekend. Just like Rosberg, who made his last stop on the 27th lap.

Meanwhile, his teammate was in the fight on his own… with Verstappen! Spectacular images elbow-to-elbow, but with force, Vettel passed at the end of Kemmel.

LAP 26/44

VET passes VES

VES passes VET

Terrific racing 👏#BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/KoY6ApVYDI

— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 août /f1/actualite/21257-belgique-qualifications-la-pole-pour-rosberg-verstappen-en-premiere-ligne.html

Hamilton indeed secures his third place, Force India plays strategically

This Grand Prix entered its final phase, with a solid Rosberg still in control, 10 seconds ahead of Ricciardo and Hamilton. However, the Mercedes driver made his last pit stop, emerging only on medium tires. Hülkenberg climbed to the provisional podium in the 33rd lap. After 106 Grand Prix, was the Force India driver finally achieving the first podium of his career? The answer was no: like a bullet, Hamilton overtook Hülkenberg off the podium in the very next lap! With this overtaking, the Englishman gained three additional points in his long-distance battle against Rosberg.

The final battles in Spa were finally focused on the last points positions. Bottas, then Räikkönen, overtook Felipe Massa, who ultimately crossed the checkered flag in tenth position, ahead of Max Verstappen.

At the front, no worries for the driver bearing number 6. At the end of the 44th lap of the race, the victory at this Belgian Grand Prix went to Nico Rosberg. Mission accomplished for the German, who thus secured his 20th personal victory, his first at Spa.

NICO ROSBERG WINS THE #BELGIANGP!!!!!! FANTASTIC DRIVE!!!!!! UTTER DOMINANCE!!!!!! BOOM!!!!!! 👊👊👊👊👊👊 #F1 pic.twitter.com/jQVzawSC4G

— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 28

A slight disappointment, however, as behind Ricciardo, second as in Hockenheim, Lewis Hamilton once again made an impressive comeback, notably avoiding the chaos in the first part of the race!

17 drivers saw the checkered flag, including Esteban Ocon, completing his first Formula 1 Grand Prix. Special mention to Force India, bringing a nice total of 22 points from Belgium.

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosberg takes sixth win of the season and his first ever victory at Spa #BelgianGP 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/UO85DIs8B6 — Formula 1 (@F1) 28 août /f1/actualite/21257-belgique-qualifications-la-pole-pour-rosberg-verstappen-en-premiere-ligne.html

Major takeaway: now Lewis Hamilton has only a nine-point lead over his teammate in the World Drivers’ Championship standings. But on the Spa podium, enlivened by the newly forty-year-old Mark Webber, it seems that car number 44 made the deal of the day…