26 Aug 2013

Vettel extends F1 lead with victory in Belgium

6:30 am on 26 August 2013

Sebastian Vettel delivered a crushing blow to his title rivals with a dominant win for Red Bull at the Belgian Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old German took the lead from the pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap and left the field in his wake, taking the chequered flag 17 seconds ahead of the runner-up Fernando Alonso, with Hamilton third.

Vettel says it was a perfect race from start to finish, and he's extended his lead in the world drivers' championship to 46 points, with Alonso now in second place and Hamilton another 12 points back in third place with eight races remaining.

Kimi Raikikonen failed to finish due to a brake problem, and he's dropped from second to fourth place in the drivers' championship.