Lewis Hamilton paid an emotional tribute to Chadwick Boseman after claiming an emphatic pole position for Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Hamilton controlled the three-stage session and twice broke Spa-Francorchamps’ track record to finish over half a second clear of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas
Boseman played the role of T’Challa, the leader of Wakanda, in the Black Panther film, which was the first Marvel film to have a black character as a superhero.
Boseman died on Friday, aged 43, and in a statement his family revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer four years ago, which he kept private.
“That was really weighing heavy on me today,” said Hamilton. “I was so driven to deliver a good performance today so that I could dedicate it to Chad
“I remember when I was a kid that Superman was a superhero, he didn’t look like me, but I still thought Superman was the greatest.
“When Chad became the King, it was really, when he became a superhero in Wakanda it was such a special day for so many people as I know kids like myself will be able to now look up to him and it is possible to do what he did, so this one’s dedicated to him.”
Hamilton explained that he met Chadwick during New York’s fashion week when “we were at the same dinner, I think I also met him at the Met Gala.
“I saw him a couple of times throughout the rest of the night and we actually kind of partied away together, on the same table basically. And it was an incredible scenario. I remember talking to him.
“I remember when Black Panther came out, I’m a huge, huge Marvel fan, so just knowing how Hollywood has been for a long, long time and to see the first black superhero come out… ah man everyone was just so proud to really represent.
“To see someone make it like him, and be such a powerful figure within the Avengers world, it was incredible, such an honour, and inspiring. His legacy will always live on.”
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