Monday, 28 August 2017

BELGIAN GRAND PRIX - HAMILTON THE WINNER, DESPITE THE PEREZ PERIL! PART 1.









There was a time, in Lewis Hamilton's early Formula 1 career, when the then relatively much younger racer would be the cause of mishaps on the circuit. 

As pushed his car fearlessly and probably unwisely, in trying to find the route to get him to the front of the pack. 

Doing so  with probably not enough thought for the other cars in his way. As a result of his fearless intrepidity, Hamilton was to earn the opprobrium of some of his Formula 1 colleagues. 

Including Felipe Massa, whose car had, on more than one occasion, been the subject of unhappy contact with Hamilton's.

How ironic it was, therefore, that the determined but, arguably reckless driving of Sergio Perez, should have thrown up the circumstances which gave Lewis Hamilton his biggest challenge to winning the 2017 Belgium Grand Prix at the Circuit Spa de-Francorchamps.



At the end of the 44 laps on this impressive and esteemed circuit, Lewis looked noticeably tired and drained, if clearly very relieved. 

He was happy enough, but not expressively so, even though he declared that, winning this grand prix was his goal, and he has achieved it.

With Hamilton having contended with 71 laps races, it might have been thought that a 44 lap race would be a most welcomed one for him and the 19 other racers in this one. 



But not so. With the Circuit Spa de-Francorchamps being a top of the range track, and the predatorial Sebastian Vettel a matter of less than two seconds behind him, the last thing Hamilton would have wanted to occur, did occur.

Thanks to what seemed a foolhardy action by Sergio Perez, Hamilton lost his slender advantage. 

When the Safety Car had to come out to clean up the wreckage caused by Perez demanding that his team mate car become elasticated or collide with the inside track wall. 

Not surprisingly, Econ was not gifted to make the impossible possible, and became at the mercy of being squeezed by his team mate from the left, and the unyielding wall on his right. 

This did not prevent Ocon finishing the race on P 9. While his hapless and frustrating team mate, having limped back to the Pit, minus a wheel, would eventually retired his damaged car.

To be continued.







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