Last week at Spa-Francorchamps in the Belgian Ardennes, 26-year-old Sebastien Vettel took the lead from pole position Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap of the Formula 1 race and then led all the way to claim his fifth victory of the year. The win puts him clear in first place and although the championship has another eight races to go, it augurs well for Vettel’s bid for a fourth consecutive world championship.
The defending triple world champion came home a comfortable 16.869 seconds ahead of second-placed Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, with Hamilton third for Mercedes. It was Hamilton’s fourth third-place of the year and the 54th podium finish of his career, drawing him alongside triple world champion Austrian, Niki Lauda.
Hamilton’s team-mate, German Nico Rosberg, finished fourth ahead of Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull and sixth-placed Briton Jenson Button.
Young Australian and heir apparent to Webber’s Red Bull seat next year, Daniel Ricciardo, once again put up a stellar performance, finishing in tenth spot and notching another point against his name to make it 12 for the year so far.
Vettel’s win lifted him to a total of 197 points, while Alonso climbed back into second on 151 with Hamilton third on 139, Raikkonen fourth on 134 and Mark Webber fifth on 115 points. In the constructors championship Red Bull lead with 312 points ahead of Mercedes on 235.