'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Bad week for Lewis Hamilton
After a month's break, F1 action was back for the 2nd half of the season at the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. Lewis dominated the proceedings in the practice sessions, but his bad luck during the qualifying sessions continued, only with a reduced intensity as he managed a 2nd place. But, nothing to take away from Nico Rosberg as he took the pole by quite a margin from his team mate in tricky conditions.It was the 7th of the season, and 4th in a row for Rosberg.
Coming to the race, It was an electrifying start from Vettel who was 3rd on the grid and identical to last year's race, as he challenged Hamilton for the lead down into Les Combes (Turn 3). But, the power of the Mercedes was too good for him. Vettel ran out of tarmac and went into the run off. Come Lap 2, it was the turn of Rosberg with the aid of the DRS. Both of them went side by side into the Les Combes corner with Lewis on the inside line. At this moment, Rosberg needed to yield his position to avoid contact with his team mate. But, he was little too late in doing so as both of them touched, which resulted in a puncture for Lewis and a slight front wing damage for Rosberg.
Ricciardo holds off Rosberg
With Vettel, Hamilton and Rosberg jolted with some issues, Ricciardo took the situation into his hands and made the most of it to take his 3rd win of the season. It was different this time around as he was in the lead for most of the time. Rosberg tried different strategies to snatch victory from Ricciardo by doing an extra pit stop. He almost managed it, but Ricciardo and Red Bull jus managed to get home with excellent driving. Williams' Valtteri Bottas continued to impress with his performances with a 4th podium in the last 5 races. 4th went to a resurging Kimi Raikkonen, who for the first time finished ahead of his team mate Fernando Alonso.
Rivalry continues
The big news though, Lewis - DNF and Rosberg 2nd. Thus extending his lead in the championship from 18 points to an overall lead of 29 points. The move of Rosberg did not please Mercedes' Non Executive chairman and former F1 champion - Mr. Niki Lauda, and so did the crowd who booed Rosberg on the podium. The relationship between the two Mercedes drivers is going on the same lines as that of Alain Prost and the great Ayrton Senna in the 1989 season. Was the crash deliberate or not? Interesting news coming out of Lewis's statement, "Rosberg admitted the crash was deliberate during the team meeting"
Where this will go and how would the season end? Tough days ahead for the Mercedes team. This was the 2nd race in the running that the team missed out on the victory, despite having by far the fastest car on the track owing to the fight for the title between the team mates.
