Hamilton 'blessed' with win

Hamilton: Difficult situation

Related links

Teams

• McLaren

Drivers

• Lewis Hamilton

Also see

• Circuit guides
• Driver profiles
• Live coverage
• £5 Free Bet

Lewis Hamilton says he feels "blessed" with victory in the Belgian Grand Prix after his title rivals slipped up at Spa.

The McLaren driver took the lead at the first corner when polesitter Mark Webber struggled off the line after suffering a clutch problem.

He was never challenged again during the 44-lap race, although he did suffer an anxious moment when rain hit during the latter stages - Hamilton running off the road and into the gravel before making it back to the pits for wet weather tyres.

"I am so happy, so grateful to be in this position," Hamilton said. "If you have things like that in a race like that it can be a lottery.

"To come out on top, even facing a difficult situation - and one I was blessed to get away with - I am so happy, so ecstatic.

"The conditions were really tricky when it started to rain. I was losing temperature in the tyres and not knowing how hard to push. I braked late and locked a wheel and went wide in turn eight.

"I made it all the way out to the wall and just clipped it with the edge of my wing. I was fortunate to get away with that, it was so slippery out there - there was nothing you could do, just tip-toe around."

Hamilton's win was his third of the season and one that allowed him to re-take a three-point lead in the drivers' standings from Webber.

The Australian recovered from his poor start to finish second ahead of Renault's Robert Kubica, but the three other title contenders all failed to pick up points.

Webber's Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel finished 15th after a torrid race which saw him collide with another title rival, Jenson Button.

Massive blow

While Hamilton celebrated, defending world champion Button was left to reflect on the "massive blow" that left him losing valuable ground to his team-mate.

With six races remaining this season, Button now stands 35 points behind his fellow McLaren driver.

He had to retire on lap 17 after Vettel lost control of his car under braking for the Bus Stop chicane and hit him broadside while the pair disputed second place.

"I don't know what happened with Sebastian," Button said. "All I felt was a big bang in the side pod. It ripped the radiator out I think and I lost drive completely.

"It was a very strange incident. I don't know what he was doing really. It's a massive blow - a massive blow. It hurts quite a bit really."

Button was shaping up for a McLaren one-two finish prior to the incident. The young German was given a drive-through penalty, although Button was not consoled by that.

"He did not do it on purpose, but the stewards had no choice and it does not save my race and my points does it?" he said.

Another title contender, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, retired after a late spin having fought his way back into the top 10 following an earlier collision.