SPA-FRANCORCHAMP, Belgium (CMC) — Lewis Hamilton fell further out of contention in the race for the Formula One title when he crashed out at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix as McLaten teammate Jenson Button won at Spa here yesterday.

The Brit, whose paternal grandparents are Grenadian, started seventh but was involved in a three-car smash up with Romain Grosjean and Fernando Alonso on the first lap, to suffer massive disappointment.

Defending drivers champion Sebastien Vettel of Red Bull was second while Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen finished third.

Afterward, a disappointed Hamilton avoided the topic of the accident.

"It's been a difficult day for me; my race was so short that I didn't even break a sweat out there," he lamented.

"I don't really want to talk about the start. I think everyone saw what happened. It's just a shame. This wasn't a great day for my world championship hopes either, but I certainly won't be giving up."

Hamilton is now fifth on 117 points in the championship but still only 47 points behind Alonso, who also came away from the event without adding to his tally.