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Lewis Hamilton thanked his lucky stars on Sunday after overcoming a 'China moment' on his way to winning the Belgian Grand Prix and retaking the Formula One championship lead.

Hamilton famously missed out on the title in his 2007 debut season after slipping off the track in the rain while leading the penultimate Chinese Grand Prix and becoming bogged down in the gravel.

That time, the team's decision to keep the Briton out for a few more laps on a greasy track with deteriorating tyres backfired dramatically.

For one brief heart-stopping moment at Spa on Sunday, it looked as if Hamilton could be in for more pain as the race leader suggested over the radio that he should pit for fresh tyres on lap 35 of the scheduled 44 and the team told him to stay out in the rain.

Almost before he could finish his sentence, the Briton slid off the track at turn eight and jolted across the gravel before missing the tyre wall by a fingernail and then regaining the track without losing position.

"The Lord definitely had his hand over me there as I was able to get away with it," Hamilton said, now three points clear of Red Bull's Mark Webber at the top of the standings.

"I made it all the way out to the wall and just clipped it with the edge of my wing," he said. "Fortunately not the whole car, I was very fortunate to get away with that. It was so slippery out there. There is nothing you can do. Obviously you tip-toe around.

"I felt I was braking quite early, but the thing just did not want to stop and locked the wheel and I was gone."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner called the Briton 'the luckiest man in Belgium'.

In his 2008 championship year, Hamilton took the chequered flag at Spa only to be demoted to third for cutting a chicane with the victory going to Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

This time there was no sting in the tail as he celebrated a 14th win that ranked up there with his best.

"It feels like the first time," the 25-year-old driver told the team over the radio as he crossed the line, his excitement evident to all.

"I think you can probably see by my reaction just how happy I am. I love racing. It is in my blood. I missed it so much in the break," he added.

"It is one of those I can tick off now and say that I have won. I get to keep this one, which is great."