Formula 1®
DHL Fastest Lap Award: 2017 FORMULA 1 PIRELLI BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
Key Takeaways
- Sebastian Vettel takes DHL Fastest Lap for second time this season
- New track record for the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Lewis Hamilton retains lead in DHL Fastest Lap Award
DHL Fastest Lap Predictor Game
Fastest Driver Group 1: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) - 1:46.577
Fastest Driver Group 2: Sergio Perez (Force India) - 1:48.300
Fastest Driver Group 3: Romain Grosjean (Haas) - 1:49.087
Enter the DHL Fastest Lap Game
Sebastian Vettel takes DHL Fastest Lap at Spa
The Belgian Grand Prix was dominated by an exciting battle between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, just like the whole of the Formula 1 season. Hamilton was in pole position for the first race after the summer break and finally won a hard-fought victory.
Vettel remained within striking distance of Hamilton during the entire race but was unable to find a way past the Mercedes driver. He got the best chance to launch an overtaking maneuver during the final stint after a safety car period. Vettel drew alongside Hamilton on Kemmel straight following the restart, but the British driver had the racing line and stayed in front.
Vettel, describing what happened: “I was surprised how close I could follow through the whole race. So I am a bit angry at myself, because, when the race restarted after the safety car, I was probably too close to Lewis out of Turn 1. I tried to open the gap down Eau Rouge but it’s a difficult compromise. You see the cars coming behind and you know that you need to defend instead of focusing on attacking. At the same time, I know that down the straights, we are not as quick as Mercedes.”
While Hamilton completed the final stint on soft tires, Vettel switched to ultrasofts, hoping that the softer compound would give him a decisive advantage. And on Lap 41 with just three laps to go to the checkered flag, the Ferrari driver actually managed to burn a time of 1:46.577 into the Belgian asphalt to secure the DHL Fastest Lap, but even that was not enough to prevent Hamilton’s victory.
You see, Hamilton was just a whisker behind Vettel with a personal best time of 1:46.603. “The Ferrari was very strong today, and they put on a fantastic fight. We were both pushing every single lap and there was no room for error or mistake,” said the Mercedes driver, whose deficit in the world championship is now only seven points.
Fastest race laps: 2017 FORMULA 1 PIRELLI BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
01 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 1:46.577 - on Lap 41
02 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:46.603 - on Lap 35
03 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 1:47.549 - on Lap 44
04 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 1:47.721 - on Lap 37
05 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 1:47.730 - on Lap 36
06 Sergio Pérez (Force India) 1:48.300 - on Lap 27
07 Nico Hülkenberg (Renault) 1:48.922 - on Lap 39
08 Romain Grosjean (Haas) 1:49.087 - on Lap 37
09 Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 1:49.126 - on Lap 36
10 Jolyon Palmer (Renault) 1:49.283 - on Lap 44
History: DHL Fastest Laps in the FORMULA 1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
With his DHL Fastest Lap of 1:46.577, Sebastian Vettel set a new record for the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The German beat his own best time, as he set the previous track record of 1:47.263 in 2009 when he was with Red Bull.
Furthermore, Lewis Hamilton posted a new best time of anyone in qualifying. The Mercedes driver raced to pole position in just 1: 42.553, completing the fastest lap ever seen at Spa.
Lewis Hamilton leads DHL Fastest Lap Award
Lewis Hamilton still heads the overall standings in the DHL Fastest Lap Award. The Mercedes driver has six fastest race laps to his name so far this season, followed by Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen with two, and Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez with one each.
Formula 1 racing continues in Monza next weekend. Take part in the DHL Fastest Lap Game for the FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO HEINEKEN D’ITALIA 2017. Send us your tip now and win great prizes!
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