Lewis Hamilton on Saturday, joined millions of fans around the world to mourn the death of Hollywood and Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman who died of colon cancer on Friday. The Formula One reigning Champions taking to the famous Wakanda posture, after sealing the pole position at the Belgian GP, dedicated his sealing of pole position on Saturday, to the late actor.
Lewis Hamilton was fastest on both laps in the final qualifying session and beat Bottas by 0.511secs. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was 0.015secs off the Finn.
Daniel Ricciardo excelled with fourth place on the grid, ahead of the second Red Bull of Alexander Albon.
Ferrari struggled, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel down in 13th and 14th.
Hamilton’s performance was one of his most impressive, as he took his 93rd pole with two laps in another dimension to what Bottas could manage.
Hamilton said: “Very clean session. Every laps was getting better and better.
“It is a really important pole to me. I woke up to the saddest news of Chadwick passing away. 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 forever.
“Q3 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 One all weekend, I got that and then eked it out for the rest of the lap. That was a very, very good lap.”
Actor Boseman, who was 43, passed away at his home in the Los Angeles area with his wife and family by his side.
‘It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman. Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV,’ the family said.
‘A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much.’
The family revealed several of Boseman’s recent films, including Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, and August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, were filmed ‘during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.’
And a number of sporting names have taken to social media to pay tribute to the 43-year-old.