Nico Rosberg keeps title hopes alive after cruising to Belgian Grand Prix victory

German Nico Rosberg eased to victory in a chaotic Belgian Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday.

Nico Rosberg, centre, jumps atop the podium after winning the Belgian Grand Prix. Srdjan Suki / EPA

Nico Rosberg rekindled his bid for the drivers’ world championship by steering his Mercedes-GP to a convincing victory in Sunday’s chaotic Belgian Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton fought back to finish third.

Rosberg’s delight was reduced by his Mercedes teammate Hamilton’s damage-limiting and thrilling drive to finish on the podium after starting from the back row of the grid.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished second in his Red Bull Racing car.

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Rosberg, 31, started from his third successive pole position, and led from start to finish in a 44-lap race fractured by accidents and incidents to secure his first victory in Belgium and his sixth of the season.

Hamilton, who started 21st after being handed 60 grid position penalties for taking three new power-units through the weekend, remains narrowly ahead of Rosberg in the title race with 232 points to his 223.

German Nico Hulkenberg finished fourth ahead of his Force India tea-mate Sergio Perez, as the Silverstone-based team overhauled rivals Williams in the constructors’ championship.

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari recovered from a first-corner collision with his own teammate Kimi Raikkonen to take sixth ahead of Fernando Alonso, who had started 22nd on the grid.

Valtteri Bottas was eighth for Williams ahead of Raikkonen and Brazilian Felipe Massa.

The race was halted in the early stages when Dane Kevin Magnussen crashed heavily, but he limped away from his wrecked Renault car with only a damaged ankle.

RESULTS FROM THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

1. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes-GP 1:44:51.058

2. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull Racing +00:14.113

3. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes-GP 00:27.634

4. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India 00:35.907

5. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India 00:40.660

6. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari 00:45.394

7. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren 00:59.445

8. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams 01:00.151

9. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 01:01.109

10. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams 01:05.873

11. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull Racing 01:11.138

12. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Haas 01:13.877

13. Romain Grosjean (France) Haas 01:16.474

14. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) Toro Rosso 01:27.097

15. Jolyon Palmer (Britain) Renault 01:33.165

16. Esteban Ocon (France) Manor 1 lap

17. Felipe Nasr (Brazil) Sauber1 lap

r. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) Renault 39 laps

r. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Sauber 41 laps

r. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 43 laps

r. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso 43 laps

r. Pascal Wehrlein (Germany) Manor 44 laps

(rank: r = retired, nc = not classified)

Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton,1:51.583, lap 40.

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