Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman after securing pole position at Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to Chadwick Boseman after putting his Mercedes on pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday.
Hamilton, who holds a 37-point Formula 1 championship lead over Red Bull's Max Verstappen, beat team-mate Valtteri Bottas to top spot with a new track record at Spa-Francorchamps.
The world champion saw off Bottas' challenge around the iconic 4.3-mile venue in the Ardennes by a mighty half-a-second.
Verstappen lines up in third ahead of Renault's Daniel Ricciardo and Alexander Albon in the other Red Bull.
After finishing on pole Hamilton climbed on top of his car.
He stood, head down, and made a Black Panther gesture in reference to actor Chadwick Boseman, whose death was announced on Saturday morning.
"That one was for Chadwick, Chadwick Boseman," said Hamilton over the team radio, "Rest in peace, mate."
A statement posted on his Twitter account on Saturday morning revealed that Boseman battled colon cancer since 2016.
He died at home with his family and wife by his side aged just 43.
"A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you so many of the films you have come to love so much," the statement said.
"From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy."