2016 Belgian Grand Prix
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.
| 2016 Belgian Grand Prix | |||||
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Race 13 of 21 in the 2016 Formula One World Championship
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Layout of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit | |||||
| Race details | |||||
| Date | 28 August 2016 | ||||
| Official name | 2016 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix | ||||
| Location |
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Stavelot, Belgium | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 7.004 km (4.352 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 44 laps, 308.052 km (191.415 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Partially cloudy and dry | ||||
| Attendance | 233,730 (Weekend) | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Mercedes | ||||
| Time | 1:46.744 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | |||
| Time | 1:51.583 on lap 40 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Mercedes | ||||
| Second | Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer | ||||
| Third |
| Mercedes | |||
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Lap leaders | |||||
Mercedes driver and defending race winner Lewis Hamilton entered the race leading the World Drivers' Championship by nineteen points ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg. In the World Constructors' Championship, Mercedes held a lead of 159 points. Red Bull Racing was lying second, having passed Ferrari in the standings at the previous round in Germany.
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 12.5G 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.
This would be the last time until the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix that a Williams driver was fastest in a qualifying session.