Belgian Grand Prix: Driver hails halo after terrifying crash while Lewis Hamilton laments ‘boring’ F1 races
After notching up yet another win, Lewis Hamilton has slammed the boring approach his rivals are taking to races, while there was a horro crash at the Belgian Grand Pix. Watch the video.
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George Russell said he had been “very lucky” to escape serious injury thanks to his Williams car’s cockpit ‘halo’ when he was hit by a bouncing wheel from Antonio Giovinazzi’s Alfa Romeo during the Belgian Grand Prix.
The Briton was behind the Italian as they came out of Les Fagnes corner where Giovinazzi lost control of his car and spun into the barriers.
His car suffered extensive damage and a rear wheel flew across the track ahead of Russell.
“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and there was nothing we could do,” said Russell.
“If I went to the right, that’s where Antonio’s car was - but at the left side of the track, I had a massive impact with the tyre.
Huge drama on Lap 11 at Spa as Giovinazzi and Russell crash 💥 👀#BelgianGP 🇧🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/bedzeQ2f0U
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 30, 2020
“I have to say you feel much safer in the car now with the halo. When I saw this massive tyre coming towards me, it was quite scary, to be honest.
“So I’m very thankful that we have this halo on the car right now. I’m all fine... just a little bit frustrated, obviously, but that’s racing sometimes.” Giovinazzi said a snap of over-steer on the exit of the left-hand corner pitched him out of control.
“I had a snap of over-steer on the exit and there was nothing I could do,” he said.
“I’m just sorry for my team after what happened, but I have to reset my mind right now for Italy.
“I feel really sorry for George as I destroyed his race as well. It’s really unfortunate what happened to him. I’m just sorry.”
HAMILTON’S SLEDGE
Lewis Hamilton saluted actor Chadwick Boseman on the podium after a majestic 89th career win at the Belgian Grand Prix and then said he would prefer to have to fight harder for victories.
The championship leader and six-time Formula One champion made the crossed-forearms gesture from the “Black Panther” movies in respect for Hollywood star Boseman, who died on Friday, and to whose memory he had dedicated his 93rd pole position on Saturday.
Hamilton said he had been inspired by Boseman to produce another flawless performance.
“It feels great to finish on a high this weekend, particularly with Chad dying because he made everyone feel like a superhero.” Hamilton claimed his fifth win in seven outings this year to increase his lead in the title race to 47 points. His team-mate Valtteri Bottas was second.
“I know it is not necessarily what everyone wants to see - the two Mercedes at the front,” said Hamilton.
He said he would prefer to have closer racing with multi-stop racing, instead of one-stop, as most drivers finished Sunday’s race managing their tyres.
“Today was really all about tyres. Everyone doing this one-stop thing - it’s really boring. At the end of the day, we are all managing out there, which is not racing. At the end, we are backing off, maybe it would have been fine but it was too big a risk today,” he said.
“I really, really would like to have more of a fight, but that is not on me.”
Hamilton said that the Mercedes domination was a product of the team’s approach. “No matter how much success we have, we have to keep our heads down,” he said. “It’s an incredible mentality and I feel so privileged to be a part of this team.” He said that although his race appeared to be under control from lights to flag, it had ended tensely as he nursed his car to the finish on worn tyres.
“It was a bit of a struggle, but nonetheless it was ok,” he said. “I was a little nervous that we may have something like that which we had at Silverstone with the tyre - so I was nursing it to the end.” Hamilton won the British Grand Prix on three good wheels after suffering a last lap puncture.
He added that, on a personal level, he felt confident, fit and strong ahead of the races ahead, starting with two in Italy in successive weeks.
“I am 35 now, going towards 36, but I feel better than ever,” he said. “That is a positive.” Bottas said he had been unable to catch Hamilton.
“Lewis played the start really well and I couldn’t get the momentum. I think he was faultless today and yesterday, of course, he was quick. I did my best and I am glad there is another opportunity next weekend.”
Sebastian Vettel said Ferrari have to remain calm and avoid any sense of frustration as they seek to shake off a dismal Belgian Grand Prix weekend ahead of their home Italian race next Sunday.
The four-time champion, who is in his final season with the Italian team, finished 13th on Sunday, one place ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc, who won last year’s race.
Neither driver was able to make any impression, as Ferrari struggled and finished pointless outside the top ten. At one stage, the drivers almost collided as they banged wheels in a scrap over 12th position.
“It was very difficult to have any decent pace in this race or this weekend,” said Vettel. “There are a lot of things we have learned and we have to stay calm and not frustrated.
“Being frustrated normally does not lead you anywhere. We have to be calm, be realistic and not expect any miracles.
“The package we have is what it is and we have to focus on the good things even if there are not many of them.” Vettel added that he and the team were very conscious of “the two important weeks coming up” with their home Italian Grand Prix at Monza next weekend being followed immediately by the Tuscany Grand Prix at Mugello to celebrate Ferrari’s 1,000th F1 race.
“The next is Monza - it means a lot to us and we have to keep fighting,” he said, as the team prepares to return to the ‘temple of speed’ for a race behind closed doors.
Vettel again expressed his own frustration during the race, questioning Ferrari’s race strategy while Leclerc was pitted an unexpected second time.
The German, linked with a move next year to Aston Martin, the re-branded Racing Point team, has won three times before at Monza, but his wins in 2008, 2011 and 2013 were with Toro Rosso and then, twice, with Red Bull.
Leclerc won last year’s Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari, but the team are significantly down on power this season compared to last year.
RESULTS
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1 h 24:08.761,
2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) at 8.448,
3. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) 15.455,
4. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 18.877,
5. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Renault) 40.650,
6. Alexander Albon (THA/Red Bull-Honda) 42.712,
7. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) 43.774,
8. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) 47.371,
9. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) 52.603,
10. Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) 53.179,
11. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:10.200,
12. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1:11.504,
13. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:12.894,
14. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:14.920,
15. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) 1:16.793,
16. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1:17.795,
17. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:25.540
Fastest lap: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 1:47.483 on 44th lap (speed: 234,589 km/h)
Did not finish: George Russell (GBR/Williams), Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari).
Did not start: Carlos Sainz (ESP/McLaren-Renault)