Lewis Hamilton raises suspicions over safety car deployment at Belgian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton has hinted that Formula One’s race officials attempted to manipulate the result of the Belgian Grand Prix following an “unnecessary” safety car.

Twenty four hours after Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher’s all-time pole position record, the Briton, celebrating his 200th race, led virtually every lap here in the Ardennes to halve the deficit to Sebastian Vettel at the summit of the championship.

But Hamilton’s victory, his fifth of this see-saw campaign, came under threat with 14 laps remaining after veteran race official Charlie Whiting deployed a safety car following a collision between Force India team-mates Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon.