Sebastian Vettel delivered a crushing blow to his title rivals on Sunday when he increased his lead in the drivers’ championship with a consummate triumph for Red Bull in the Belgian Grand Prix. The 26-year-old German took the lead from pole-man Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap and then pulled clear to claim his fifth win of the year and the 31st of his career, pulling him level with Briton Nigel Mansell. With eight races remaining, Vettel’s win was an emphatic riposte to Hamilton’s speed and recent form, and his maiden victory for Mercedes in Hungary. Starting from the 31st pole of his career and his fourth in succession, Hamilton made a clean departure from the grid to lead through La Source hairpin and down through Eau Rouge. But Vettel, showing the speed of his Red Bull car uphill through Radillon, was able to glide past the Mercedes on the long run down to Malmedy. Behind the two leaders, Alonso made a typically excellent start from ninth and climbed to fifth as Webber, from third, slipped back to sixth. It was the first time in five years that the Spaniard had survived being hit by a rival on the opening lap. Once Button pitted Alonso moved into second and with Hamilton in third the status quo for the podium places remained unchanged. Vettel’s win, his second in Belgium, lifted him to a total of 197 points while Alonso climbed back to second on 151 with Hamilton third on 139. In the constructors championship Red Bull lead with 312 points ahead of Mercedes on 235. “It was a fantastic race for us from start to finish,” said Vettel. “It was very good tactics and it helped to get past Lewis on the first lap. “I feel good, winning helps, the car was much better going into the race so we had the pace to control it”.
Sunday, March 23, 2025
