Formula One Belgian Grand Prix live blog, race updates

Another masterclass from Lewis Hamilton and he is now only 2 wins away from equalling Michael Schumacher's all-time F1 wins record of 91. It's definitely a matter now of when this will happen, with Mugello in two weeks time the earliest possible race for it to be matched. Though for now, we get ourselves ready to go to Monza in less than seven days time for the Italian Grand Prix and what is always a special race at the Cathedral of F1! Until then, thank you again for tuning in to this live blog on The Roar for the Belgian Grand Prix and I shall be back for Monza next week. See ya'll later!

-------- DRIVER'S -------- 157 - Lewis Hamilton 110 - Max Verstappen 107 - Valtteri Bottas 48 -- Alexander Albon 45 -- Charles Leclerc 45 -- Lando Norris 42 -- Lance Stroll 33 -- Daniel Ricciardo 33 -- Sergio Perez 26 -- Esteban Ocon 23 -- Carlos Sainz 18 -- Pierre Gasly 16 -- Sebastian Vettel 6 --- Nico Hulkenberg 2 --- Antonio Giovinazzi 2 --- Daniil Kvyat 1 --- Kevin Magnussen 0 --- Kimi Ráikkönen 0 --- Nicholas Latifi 0 --- George Russell 0 --- Romain Grosjean

----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 264 - Mercedes AMG 158 - Aston Martin Red Bull Racing 68 -- McLaren Renault 63 -- Racing Point Mercedes 61 -- Scuderia Ferrari 59 -- Renault 20 -- Scuderia AlphaTauri 2 --- Alfa Romeo Racing 1 --- Haas Ferrari 0 --- Williams Mercedes

RACE REPORT It was another cruise from pole position to the chequered flag for Lewis Hamilton, who stormed to an 89th career victory at the Belgian Grand Prix – despite some late tyre concerns. The championship leader ran relatively trouble free during the race, nailing a solid start ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas and then executing a trouble-free pit-stop during the Safety Car period on Lap 12. Bottas completed a Mercedes one-two finish, getting his best result since the season opener in Austria – with Max Verstappen enduring a lonely race behind them to finish third. All of the top three had similar tyre concerns at the end of the race, similar to that in Silverstone – though all survived without making an additional pit-stop. The Safety Car on Lap 11 was triggered by a crash from Antonio Giovinazzi for the second year running. A wheel from the Alfa Romeo flew off and hit George Russell’s Williams too, taking both drivers out of the race. Thankfully neither driver was harmed. There was heartbreak too for Carlos Sainz, who due to an exhaust problem on his McLaren was unable to even start the race – adding to the ill-fortune the Spaniard has had in 2020 so far. An interesting battle for the midfield unfolded though involving the other McLaren of Lando Norris, the Renault of Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon towards the end of the race for fifth. Albon, who showed that he was quick across the weekend qualifying fifth, ended up losing out by a poor strategy call to go onto the medium tyres. The Red Bull driver was displaced by Ocon on the final lap for fifth, though held off Norris. Not too far behind was Pierre Gasly who put in another stunning drive from twelfth to eighth. There was concern after the Frenchman started on the hard tyre and ended up not being able to pit in the Safety Car period, that he would lose out – though the 24-year old charged back up the field to finish in the points. Gasly not only finished ahead of the Racing Points who endured a tougher race than of late, but breezed past the Ferraris who perhaps had their most disappointing race of the year. Both Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc lacked pace all-round, but their power deficit was really exposed on the long Kemmel Straight. The fastest lap honours were taken by Daniel Ricciardo in fourth, who after a lonely race in the Renault – vindicated the French manufacturer’s overall performance at this high-speed track, which bodes well for the next race in Monza.