2016 Belgian Grand Prix
Rosberg wins at Spa as Hamilton fights from last to third.
The 2016 Belgian Grand Prix (formally known as the 2016 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 28 August 2016 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium. It was the thirteenth round of the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship, and marks the seventy-second running of the Belgian Grand Prix and the fifty-ninth time the race was held at Spa-Francorchamps. It was also the first time Esteban Ocon drove in a F1 race.
Quick Facts
- Event
- Formula One World Championship
- Circuit
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
- Team
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport
- Key drivers
- Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg
- Race winner
- Nico Rosberg (post-race classification)
- Starting grid position
- 3rd and 4th (before start incident)
Lore & Background
Nico Rosberg won this Grand Prix, with Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton, second and third respectively. Hamilton received a multi-grid penalty before the start of the race. Hamilton retained the championship lead, with Rosberg closing the gap to nine points. Red Bull's Max Verstappen and both Ferraris were involved in an incident at the start of the race. The race was stopped on lap 9 after Kevin Magnussen crashed heavily at Raidillon, suffering a 12.5 g impact, causing structural damage to the armoured collision barrier and tyre wall which required repairs, before the race could resume under green flag conditions. Magnussen suffered a cut on his ankle but no serious injury.
Reader's Guide
Nico Rosberg started from pole position. Lewis Hamilton started from last place due to a 60-place grid penalty after Mercedes opted to replace several elements on his power unit, then remove a seal from his gearbox. At the start Nico Rosberg got away well. Hamilton finished third, becoming the first ever driver to have claimed three podiums from 20th on the grid or lower.
Did You Know?
- Esteban Ocon made his Formula One début, replacing Rio Haryanto at MRT.
- Kevin Magnussen's crash at Raidillon caused a 12.5 g impact and a race stoppage.
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