29 August,2016 08:29 AM IST | | Abhishek Takle
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg avoided the chaos unfolding behind him to cruise to victory for Mercedes in an eventful Belgian Grand Prix; Hamilton comes in third
Mercedes'- German driver Nico Rosberg celebrates his Belgium GPu00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0088win at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
Nico Rosberg avoided the chaos unfolding behind him to cruise to victory for Mercedes in an eventful Belgian Grand Prix.
Mercedes'- German driver Nico Rosberg celebrates his Belgium GPâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088win at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
The German crossed the line 14.1 seconds of Daniel Ricciardo, who completed a hat-trick of podiums for Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton, who started on the back row of the grid after taking a 55-place engine-related grid penalty, clawed his way back up to finish third.
The race was briefly halted after Kevin Magnussen crashed heavily exiting the high-speed Eau Rouge corner. The Dane's Renault slammed violently into the barriers which brought out first the safety car and then the red flag as marshals worked to repair the damage.
Magnussen was largely unhurt but suffered a small cut to his left ankle and was taken to hospital for routine checks.
Sunday's win was the 20th of Rosberg's career and sixth of the season so far. But it was his first since the European Grand Prix in June and allows him to cut his deficit to Hamilton to just nine points in the overall standings.
The 31-year-old's path to victory, already smoothed by Hamilton's penalty, was made smoother still after his main rivals - fellow Red Bull front row starter Max Verstappen and the Ferrari pair of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel - tangled at the first corner.
The collision forced the trio to pit at the end of the first lap, dropping them to the back of the field and out of contention for the win.
Force India put on a strong showing with Nico Hulkenberg fourth and Sergio Perez fifth. The result allows the Silverstone-based squad to move ahead of Williams to fourth in the constructors' standings, putting them on course for their best ever finish to a season.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel recovered from the opening lap fracas to finish sixth. Fernando Alonso, who started dead last, was seventh for McLaren.
Valtteri Bottas finished eight in the Williams, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, while the second Williams of Felipe Massa rounded out the top ten.
Max Verstappen, for whom Sunday's race was the closest he as to a home event on the calendar, was a disappointing eleventh.
