F1 2017: Hamilton Beats Vettel To Win Belgian GP; Narrows Points Gap
Sameer Contractor
1 min read
Aug 28, 2017, 04:00 AM
Key Highlights
- Vettel continues to lead the 2017 F1 championship title
- Force India announced its drivers won't race each other again
- Mercedes leads the Constructors' Standings with 392 points
It was a Hamilton weekend at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit and the British driver for Mercedes-Petronas certainly had more reasons then ever to celebrate. Starting his 200th Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton won the Belgian GP after starting on pole and managed to beat Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to claim the victory. Interestingly, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo finished third on the podium having started sixth on the grid. It was a rather special race for Hamilton as he also managed to equal Michael Schumacher's all-time record of 68 pole-positions in the Belgian GP.
Also Read: Hamilton Equals Schumacher's All-Time Pole Record At Belgian GP
Hamilton dominated right from the start and the track was favourable to the former world champion's Mercedes W08. That said, Vettel did come up close and side-by-side with Hamilton on the Kemmel Straight on the opening lap but the German couldn't match up to the Mercedes' pace over the 44 lap race. Hamilton managed to maintain a 1.5 second lead over Vettel throughout, eventually winning the Belgian GP with a lead of 2.3 seconds. The victory has also narrowed the gap further between the two drivers to just seven points, making things a lot more exciting for who the world champion will be this year.
Showing some incredible pace quite surprisingly was Ricciardo after a less impressive practice and qualifying sessions. The Red Bull cars weren't exactly up to pace at the track and things seemed to plummet further for the team after Max Verstappen retired on Lap 6. The 19-year-old suffered a mechanical problem, which prompted the yellow flags to be called out. This ensured that a lot of drivers at the back of the grid had enough time to catch up. It also led to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen receiving a 10-second penalty for not slowing down when the yellow flags were out. This helped Ricciardo to recover to fourth. The Australian then used slip-stream coupled with ultra-soft tyres to pass Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, who was in the third place until that point.
(Ricciardo was a surprising third despite not having pace over the weekend)
Hamilton dominated right from the start and the track was favourable to the former world champion's Mercedes W08. That said, Vettel did come up close and side-by-side with Hamilton on the Kemmel Straight on the opening lap but the German couldn't match up to the Mercedes' pace over the 44 lap race. Hamilton managed to maintain a 1.5 second lead over Vettel throughout, eventually winning the Belgian GP with a lead of 2.3 seconds. The victory has also narrowed the gap further between the two drivers to just seven points, making things a lot more exciting for who the world champion will be this year.
Daniel Ricciardo 2017 Belgian GP F1
LAP 18/44: In comes Kimi, he's not too happy about it!
Related News
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Latest News
car&bike Team | Jun 17, 20262026 Citroen e-C3X Launched At Rs 10.25 Lakh; Gets New Features, BaaS OptionCitroen India has updated the e-C3X with new styling elements, additional features and a Battery-as-a-Service ownership model. The BaaS option brings the entry price down to Rs 6.89 lakh plus battery subscription charges.1 min read
Jaiveer Mehra | Jun 17, 2026New Mini Countryman C Launched In India At Rs 47.50 LakhThe Countryman C is the most affordable variant of the SUV and the first variant of the new-gen model to be locally assembled.2 mins read
car&bike Team | Jun 16, 2026Second-Gen Kia Sonet Spied Testing In India; Debut Likely In 2027The second-gen Sonet is expected to switch over to the K1 platform also featured in the Syros and the new Hyundai Venue.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jun 16, 2026Harley-Davidson X440 Prices Increased By Up To Rs 5,000The mid-spec S trim and the range-topping T variant have witnessed a price hike.2 mins read
Jaiveer Mehra | Jun 16, 20262026 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S, GLS 63 Debut With New Flat-Plane Crank V8New AMG 63 variants of the GLE and GLS round out the performance range of Mercedes’ SUVs.1 min read
Jafar Rizvi | Jun 16, 2026Hero Xpulse 421 Spotted Testing At Khardung LaHero MotoCorp first previewed its larger-capacity Xpulse adventure motorcycle through design sketches at EICMA 2024. Now, the clearest spy shots of the upcoming Xpulse 421 yet have surfaced online, revealing several production-bound details for the first time.3 mins read
Preetam Bora | Jun 15, 20262026 Yezdi Scrambler Review: The Update That Changes EverythingThe Yezdi Scrambler gets a comprehensive update with an updated engine, revised chassis, reduced weight and proper features list. Does it deliver? Here’s our take.1 min read
Preetam Bora | Jun 10, 20262026 BMW F 450 GS Review: A True GS - But Should You Buy It?The GS badge on a BMW means something and always has. Can the new made-in-India BMW F 450 GS truly live up to that legacy? We spent a few days getting familiar with the F 450 GS to see if it’s worth a buy.12 mins read
Jaiveer Mehra | Jun 10, 20262026 Tata Altroz Long-Term Review: Initial Impressions After 45 DaysTata’s premium hatchback brings a lot to the table, but some rough edges are still apparent.4 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jun 9, 2026Renault Duster 1.0-Litre Turbo Review: Small Engine, More Than Enough PerformanceThe Renault Duster's TCe100 engine is the 1.0-litre turbo petrol that makes 99 bhp and 166 Nm of peak torque. And it only comes with a 6-speed manual.6 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jun 8, 20262026 Tata Tiago EV Review: Small EV Gets Big ImprovementsThe 2026 Tata Tiago EV promises a sharper design, segment-first features at sub-Rs. 10 lakh price point, and better real-world range. But does it deliver?1 min read