SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton set a track record at the Belgian Grand Prix as he clinched a record-extending 93rd pole position on Saturday, finishing well ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton is able to increase his championship lead with 37 problems over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and 43 problems over Bottas.
“I didn’t make a mistake, ” said Hamilton proudly. “This is one of the cleanest qualifying sessions I’ve ever had. It’s a great feeling to drive on this track, how fast this track has become.”
The six-time F1 champion entrusted it to Chadwick Boseman, who played black American icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown before inspiring the audience as a majestic “Black Panther” in the hit Marvel film franchise. Boseman died on Cancer Friday. He’s 43.
“This was an important pole. I woke up today to the saddest news of Chadwick passing away,” Hamilton said. “That news broke me, so it wasn’t easy to get back focused. For what he’s done for our people and super heroes – to show the kids what’s possible in life. Wakanda forever.”
Hamilton abandoned his all-black Mercedes car with his arms crossed, which is the “Wakanda Forever” greeting that has become a pop culture landmark after the release of “Black Panther” two years ago.
Bottas followed the British driver for 0.511 seconds in qualifying, while Verstappen 0.526 from 3rd place.
“I have to attack if I want to keep my hopes (alive),” said Bottas, who won the season’s opening race in Austria.
A wonderful functionality of Renault Daniel Ricciardo’s driving force, which starts from fourth place on Sunday on the 7-kilometre track nestled in the Ardennes forest.
Things went from horrific to abysmal for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel 14th.
Ferrari’s lack of form is such that Leclerc, who won last year from pole position, settled for qualifying 13th.
“Honestly, yes. I’m not happy to say that, but entering the Q2 was a big surprise. I’m 13th and I think it’s going to be complicated unless it rains,” he said.
Vettel recorded the past record on his way to victory here in 2018, however, this season, Germany’s veteran driving force has even finished in the five most sensible in six races.
Previously, Hamilton led the third and final practice, with Vettel last, a humiliating delight for the four-time F1 champion, and Leclerc did a little better in 17th place.
While Leclerc has two podium finishes this season, Vettel is enduring his worst start since 2008. He has twice finished 10th and once 12th.
Vettel last won the Singapore GP in September, his only win in 2019, and the German driver’s last podium finish in Mexico in October.
Since then, he has retired in three races.
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