Hamilton untouchable at Spa-Francorchamps

He is only two lengths away from a record that we thought would be out of reach for at least a few decades: that of the 91 victories of Michael Schumacher.

After a new piloting demonstration, Lewis Hamilton, which seems to draw unsuspected strength from the adversity of a completely crazy 2020, has 89 successes.

Well off to a good start since his 93rd career pole position, the Briton showed a bit of mischief by imperceptibly holding back his teammate and rival Vatteri Bottas in the descent towards Eau Rouge. Hamilton was thus able to protect himself from an attack on the Kemmel straight and the braking of Les Combes which follows Raidillon.

Behind, Max Verstappen et Daniel Ricciardo gave us a great fight to gain 3rd position, the driver Red Bull having to work to contain the assaults of a Renault very fast in straight sections.

A little further, Charles Leclerc made a superb start from 13th place. The pilot Ferrari climbed up to 8th place but this was the only bright spot in a race where the SF1000s dragged on their misery throughout.

Pierre Gasly, the only driver to start on hard tires, also made a valiant start and rose to 8th position at the start of the race, at the cost of a muscular overtaking of Sergio Pérez (Racing Point) as he approached the Raidillon.

On the 10th lap, the race was neutralized following a big crash by Antonio Giovinazzi, who lost control of his Alfa Romeo in the Paul Frère corner, hit the wall of tires and caused George Russell to retire when one of his tires came loose and hit the poor driver Williams who was tumbling behind him. More fear than harm for the Italian and the British, fortunately.

Most drivers took the opportunity to stop and put on hard tires. This was not the case for Gasly and Pérez, who found themselves 4th and 5th. In this waltz of pit-stops, Esteban Ocon, which had exceeded Alexander albon at the start, fell behind the Red Bull driver after being held up in the pits by Ricciardo stopping in front of him.

The debates resumed on the 15th lap and the hierarchy at the head of the race no longer changed, Hamilton inexorably widening the gap to win a 4th time in his career at Spa-Francorchamps. This is the first victory of Mercedes in Belgium since 2017.

The last two editions had in fact fallen into the hands of a Scuderia which is now in its death throes. Between the low level of performance of the SF1000, the recurring strategic mistakes, and pit-stops lengthened at Leclerc by the need to intervene on the Monegasque's engine, the Maranello house accumulates shortcomings. And this while 2 races are looming in Italy in the coming fortnight.

Bottas secures the double for Mercedes, while Max Verstappen must this time be satisfied with the 3rd step of the podium.

Behind the leading trio, Ricciardo confirms Renault's good performances on low downforce terrain with a nice 4th place on merit. Until the end, his teammate Ocon tried to get the better of Albon and the Norman finally found the opening in Les Combes on the 44th and final lap.

We won't have seen much of him but Lando Norris (McLaren) finished on the heels of the Red Bull driver to take 7th place, ahead of a resurgent Gasly when his strategy had been compromised by the Safety Car.

The Racing Points of Lance stroll and Pérez complete the top 10 of a race in which Carlos Sainz was unable to participate due to an engine problem leading to a broken exhaust on his McLaren during his grid lap.

The bonus point for the best lap in the race goes to Ricciardo during the final loop.