Hami marks 200th race with success

Spa-Francorchamps : Lewis Hamilton completed his 200th Grand Prix in victorious style yesterday when he claimed a much-needed win for Mercedes to trim Sebastian Vettel’s championship lead to seven points.

The 32-year-old Briton made the most of his record-equalling 68th pole position to take the lead, but had to survive some concerted attacks from Vettel’s Ferrari before emerging triumphant for the fifth time this season.

It was the three-time world champion’s third Belgian victory and the 58th of his career, lifting him back into serious contention for the title.

Another victory in next Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix could give him the lead for the first time this year.

Four-time champion Vettel came home second ahead of Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull, Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari and his compatriot Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes.

“It’s been a strong weekend for myself and the team,” said Hamilton.  “Sebastian put up a great fight, but this is what I said I came to do here and so I did it.”

Vettel said: “It was good fun, but it was intense. I was waiting for Lewis to make a mistake – and he didn’t – and he was waiting for me – and I didn’t.

In perfect, if humid conditions, with an air temperature of 22 degrees and the track at 23, and in front of an estimated 125,000 crowd including an ‘orange army’ of 80,000, Hamilton pulled away from his record-equalling 68th pole position to lead into La Source and resisted Vettel’s attack at Eau Rouge. Hamilton built up an early head of speed.