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'Lewis Hamilton the real winner at Belgian GP' declares Fleet Street

Papers feel Sunday's race was key in outcome of championship

Lewis Hamilton was the 'real winner' at the Belgian Grand Prix declared Monday's papers after the Briton's charge from the back to the podium.

Starting from the last row of the grid after a host of engine change penalties, the world champion finished third, limiting the damage to his title lead to just 10 points by Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

'Unstoppable Hamilton storms 18 places to emerge real winner', declared The Times.

'This would be a victory for the German at the Belgian GP, one of the blue riband races of Formula One, but the day and the cheers would belong to Hamilton', wrote Kevin Eason.

Those thoughts were echoed in The Telegraph where Daniel Johnson wrote: 'Rosberg might have won the Belgian Grand Prix, but Hamilton was the moral victor, the gutsy racer you can only admire'.

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There was praise for the style in which Hamilton progressed through the field, avoiding damage on a day of carnage at Spa.

'He found the perfect balance between aggression and caution here', added Johnson, while in the Daily Mail Joe Downes wrote: 'From the back in China in April, Hamilton charged off the line only to get caught up in turn-one trouble. Wisely, he backed off here, taking a watching brief as debris flew in front of him.'

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The Guardian's Giles Richards declared the race one of Hamilton's most impressive writing: 'This comeback ranks easily alongside his previous best: when he took his McLaren from 24th on the grid to eighth in Barcelona - without the advantage his current Mercedes enjoys - and after a fire during qualifying at Hungary in 2014 forced a pit lane start, followed by a brave, considered and determined drive to claim third place.

'This will feel like a bigger result than both, especially given that he now has a stock of power units for the rest of the season'.

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Ted Kravitz gives his thoughts on a thrilling Belgian Grand Prix

Having added three new power units to his pool, Hamilton should no longer have to worry about further penalties this season and holding a nine-point lead, Fleet Street feels he is on course for a fourth world title.

'Hamilton 'knows he is in pole position to seal his fourth world crown. Historically he finishes the season strongly', wrote Ben Hunt in The Sun.

Dowes added in the Daily Mail: 'He now has one more engine than his team-mate for the eight remaining races, all bar two of which he has won since 2014'.

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