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19 March 2024

F1: Rosberg eases to victory in chaotic Belgian GP, Hamilton third

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg of Germany leads the race at the start of the Belgian F1 Grand Prix. (Reuters)

Published
By Agencies

German Nico Rosberg steered clear of the chaos unfolding behind him to cruise to an unchallenged victory in a disrupted Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.

His Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton, the world championship leader, finished third from the back row of the grid, behind Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.

The pole-sitting Rosberg kept the lead at the start and was never headed, after his main rivals, fellow front-row starter Max Verstappen and the Ferrari pair of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, collided at the first corner.

That elevated Ricciardo, starting fifth, to second and the Australian kept that place until the end, crossing the line 14.1 seconds behind the triumphant Rosberg.

The race was briefly halted with nine of the 44 laps completed after a massive crash for Kevin Magnussen, who lost control of his Renault as he crested the fearsome Eau Rouge.

The Dane, who was taken to hospital for routine checks after suffering a small cut to his left ankle, slammed violently into the barriers.

Officials deployed first the safety car then the red flag as marshals worked to repair the damage.

Sunday’s win was the 20th of Rosberg’s career.

It was also his sixth win of the season, but first since June’s European Grand Prix, and it cut the deficit to Hamilton to nine points in the standings.

The Briton’s rise through the order was helped by the first corner chaos that forced both Ferraris and Verstappen into the pits and by the safety car and red flag deployed after Magnussen’s crash.

Nevertheless, the triple champion, who had gone into the weekend gunning to become only the third driver to score 50 career wins, was happy to come away still ahead in the title race.

Nico Hulkenberg finished fourth for Force India ahead of team mate Sergio Perez, on a strong day for the Silverstone-based team that took them ahead of Williams into fourth in the constructors’ standings.

Vettel fought back to finish sixth ahead of Fernando Alonso who also enjoyed a strong race having started dead last.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was ninth and Red Bull's Verstappen finished a disappointing 11th.

Hospital

Kevin Magnussen was taken to hospital for precautionary checks after suffering a cut to his left ankle in a high-speed crash at the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday, his Renault team said.

The Dane lost control of his car as he crested the fast uphill sweep of the Eau Rouge corner and slammed violently into the barriers.

Magnussen, who had started 12th, got out of the car on his own but was limping slightly. He underwent checks at the medical centre before being taken to hospital.

“He is fully conscious and responsive,” Renault said in a statement.

“He has a small cut to the left ankle and has been escorted to a nearby hospital for further routine checks.”

Magnussen’s crash prompted a temporary halt to the race as marshals worked to repair tyre barriers damaged in the impact.

Crash

The Belgian Formula One Grand Prix was temporarily halted on Sunday after a high-speed crash involving Renault’s Kevin Magnussen.

The Dane lost control of his car as he crested the fast uphill sweep of the Eau Rouge corner and slammed violently into the barriers.

Magnussen, who had started 12th on the grid, emerged unhurt but limping slightly from the crash which damaged the tyre barriers bordering the track.

Officials initially deployed the safety car as marshals worked to repair damage to the barriers, but with extensive repairs required, decided to wave the red flag.

Mercedes pole-sitter Nico Rosberg was leading when the race was halted with nine of the 44 laps completed.

Daniel Ricciardo was second in the Red Bull after a chaotic start in which Max Verstappen, second on the grid, and the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel collided at the first corner.

Lewis Hamilton, who started on the back row after a 55-place engine-related grid penalty, was in fifth.

Hamilton leads team mate Rosberg by 19 points in the overall standings, having won six of the last seven races. He is gunning to become only the third driver to score 50 career wins.