Hamilton dedicates F1 Belgian GP pole to US actor Boseman

Lewis Hamilton has dedicated his pole position for Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix to the late US actor Chadwick Boseman.

Hamilton twice broke the circuit lap record at Spa-Francorchamps on his way to claiming a dominant pole position in Belgium, outpacing Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas by more than half a second.

The six-times world champion paid tribute to American film star Boseman, who died of colon cancer overnight at the age of 43. Hamilton stood on top of his car W11 after claiming his 93rd career pole to do the Wakanda salute made famous by Boseman in the Black Panther film.

After qualifying, Hamilton said: "It was a very clean session. Every lap was getting better and better.

"It is a really important pole to me. I woke up to the saddest news of Chadwick passing away and it has been such a heavy year for all of us and that news really broke me.

"It was not easy to get back in focus with that hanging in my heart but I wanted to get back up there because what he has done for our people will be remembered for ever.

"He was such a shining light. Wakanda Forever. I just wanted to come out today and drive to perfection.

"In Q3 the first lap was ace, and I thought I was not going to be able to beat that. But then I have been struggling in Turn 1 all weekend, I got that and then eked it out for the rest of the lap. That was a very, very good lap."

A stunning 93rd @F1 pole for Lewis and a special tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman pic.twitter.com/Sk4bM60v1z

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 29, 2020

Speaking in the post-qualifying press conference, Hamilton recalled the first time he met Boseman during fashion week in New York.

“I didn’t know him, know him,” Hamilton explained. “I wasn’t in touch with him personally, I wish I had the privilege of that.

“But we met in New York during fashion week last year or maybe the year before during the Met Gala week.

“We were out at the same dinner, saw him a couple of times throughout the night and we actually partied away together and were on the same table.

“It was just an incredible scenario. I remember talking to him. I remember when Black Panther came out and I’m a huge Marvel fan.

“Knowing how Hollywood has been for such a long time and just seeing the first black superhero come out, everyone was just so proud. This whole thing in general, this under representation is such a common thing.

“So, to be able to see somebody like him make it, such a powerful figure within the Avengers world, it was such an honour.

“It was inspiring and I can imagine young black kids looking at that and imagining they can be a superhero now. His legacy will always live on.”