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August 23, 2014

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Hamilton gives Rosberg the Spa treatment

LEWIS Hamilton lapped six tenths of a second faster than Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in a twice halted Belgian Grand Prix practice session yesterday.

After championship leader Rosberg had set the pace in the morning with a lap just 0.097 seconds faster than the Briton’s best, Hamilton turned the tables after lunch with a substantially quicker effort.

The time of one minute 49.189 was 0.604 better than Rosberg’s on a cloudy but bright day at the longest track on the calendar, where the weather can combine the seasons in the space of an afternoon.

Rosberg had topped the first session timesheets in 1:51.577 as the two title rivals — separated by just 11 points after 11 of 19 races — renewed their duel after the August break with their domination intact.

The afternoon running was interrupted when Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado crashed his Lotus into the barriers on the way to Pouhon.

There was a further stoppage in the first half hour when Mexican Esteban Gutierrez’s Sauber spun and was stranded on the track at Blanchimont.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was third fastest in both sessions with McLaren’s Jenson Button fourth in the morning and fifth in the afternoon. The Mercedes-powered teams were predicted to dominate and had seven cars in the top 10 in the opening session. But Ferrari’s showing, with four times Spa winner Kimi Raikkonen fifth fastest in the morning despite a spin at La Source, indicated they would not have it all their own way.

Hamilton, the 2008 F1 champion, is adamant he can mount a successful title charge after overcoming significant setbacks so far this season.

“I feel if I keep my head down like a bull, nothing can really stand in the way of a bull,” Hamilton said. “I hope that will be me on Sunday. But there is my teammate and I am sure he wants to be the wall that gets in the way.”

Although both drivers have tried to play down the tensions, Hamilton acknowledged that the rivalry has given the sport a much-needed boost after Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel’s crushing dominance last year.

“I can understand that the fans like it. It’s an interesting scenario to watch,” he said. “I sure don’t want to finish second and be known as a nice guy. I want to win.”

Hamilton has coped remarkably well with technical problems blighting his Mercedes in qualifying. He finished third after starting from 22nd on the grid in Hungary; third from 20th at the German GP; second from ninth in Austria and won the British GP starting from sixth.

“Nico has had a kind of smoother road, while I’ve had a bumpier road,” Hamilton said. “I am in shooting distance even though I had all those issues.”

Meanwhile, Bernie Ecclestone said there is no argument with Russia and the country’s debut grand prix will go ahead as planned in October.

“We have a contract. Our friends there, they are happy with the contract so we’ll be there,” the sport’s 83-year-old commercial supremo said yesterday.

“If people have got arguments with Russia, maybe they have (issues). I don’t know. We haven’t got any.”




 

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