LEWIS GETS ALL-CLEAR

Hamilton escapes penalty but Max drops to sixth on the grid

- DANIEL MOXON

LEWIS HAMILTON avoided a qualifying penalty benefit from Max and will Verstappen's grid drop at tomorrow's Belgian Grand Prix.

It came as world champion Verstappen was involved in an X-rated radio row with his race engineer.

Hamilton qualified fourth fastest at Spa-Francorchamps but was investigated by stewards for an on-track incident with George Russell.

Hamilton was accused of re-entering the track unsafely after briefly going off, and impeding his Mercedes team-mate.

After an investigation, the seven-time world champion escaped without punishment.

That meant he would rise a place on the grid after all because of the penalty for Verstappen.