Spa Francorchamps: 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.
On a welcome dry afternoon at Spa Francorchamps in the Belgian Ardennes, the 26-year-old 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 Nigel Mansell.
The defending triple world champion came home a comfortable 16.869 seconds ahead of second-placed Fernando Alonso of Ferrari with Hamilton third for Mercedes.
It was his fourth third-place of the year and the 54th podium finish of his career, drawing Hamilton alongside three-time champion Niki Lauda.
Vettel was delighted.
“It was a fantastic race for us from start to finish. It was very good tactics and it helped to get past Lewis on the first lap. We were a bit afraid of the rain coming but it was a great race.”
Hamilton’s Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg finished fourth ahead of Mark Webber in the second Red Bull and sixth-placed Jenson Button for McLaren.
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.
Kimi Raikikonen failed to finish for the first time in 39 races due to a brake problem with his Lotus and saw him drop from second in the title race to fourth.
Paul di Resta was also forced out after a collision when Pastor Maldonado of Williams drove into his Force India in the closing stages.
Starting from pole, Hamilton made a clean departure from the grid, 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 to sixth.
Alonso, a two-time world champion, revelled in the conditions, passing Button and Rosberg as he climbed to third by lap 10, Hamilton hanging on to Vettel at the front.
Hamilton pitted after 12 laps for new medium compound tyres, rejoining ninth.
This left Vettel leading Alonso ahead of Webber, before they both pitted after 13 laps while Hamilton struggled to pass a feisty Romain Grosjean until he surged by on lap 14. (AFP)