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Belgian GP: Rosberg cruises to maiden win at Spa

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

Rosberg's delight was reduced by his Mercedes team-mate 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.

Sixth victory of the season

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

More: Belgian GP - As it happened

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 team-mate Sergio Perez, as the Silverstone-based team overhauled rivals Williams in the constructors' championship.

Magnussen crash drew red flag

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari recovered from a first-corner collision with his own team-mate 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.

Renault F1 boss Fred Vasseur said in a statement: "He has a small cut on the ankle - he had an X-ray and things look okay." 

WATCH: Kevin Magnussen's massive shunt on Eau Rouge

Belgian GP results: 

1. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes) 1hr 44min 51.058sec, 
2. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) at 14.113sec, 
3. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 27.634sec, 
4. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Force India) 35.907sec, 
5. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) 40.660sec, 
6. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 45.394sec, 
7. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren-Honda) 59.445sec, 
8. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams) 1min 00.151sec, 
9. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1min 01.109sec, 
10. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1min 05.873sec, 
11. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1min 11.138sec, 
12. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/Haas) 1min 13.877sec, 
13. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1min 16.474sec, 
14. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 1min 27.097sec, 
15. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1min 33.165sec, 
16. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Manor) 1 lap, 
17. Felipe Nasr (BRA/Sauber) 1 lap


Overall Standings

Drivers

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 232 pts
2. Nico Rosberg (GER) 223
3. Daniel Riccardo (AUS) 151
4. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 128
5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 124 
6. Max Verstappen (NED) 115
7. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 62
8. Sergio Perez (MEX) 58
9. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 45 
10. Felipe Massa (BRA) 39 
11. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 30
12. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 30
13. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 28 
14. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 23
15. Jenson Button (GBR) 17
16. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 6 
17. Pascal Wehrlein (GER) 1
18. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL) 1

Constructors

1. Mercedes 455 pts
2. Red Bull 274
3. Ferrari 252
4. Force India 103
5. Williams 101
6. McLaren 48
7. Toro Rosso 45
8. Haas 28
9. Renault 6
10. Manor 1
11. Sauber 0

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