The decisive essence of any sporting endeavour and achievement against overwhelming odds has to be integrity at the highest level.

An honest belief that the challenge confronting any competitor can be faced with a genuine intention to give back a rewarding return to those whose faith is a rallying inspiration has to be the crucial motivation to be a winner. Or, at least, a genuine and spectacular trier.

That brings me to Lewis Hamilton and his memorable back-to-front showcase of a race at last Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, a magnificent demonstration of true integrity to underpin his towering ability and fortitude in never surrendering to difficulties that may have swamped lesser beings and rendered them as acceptors of defeat.

It was a treat of a performance to pick his way through the massed ranks ahead of him to secure third place after starting on the back row serving out a penalty enforced because Mercedes made three punishable changes to his engine.

He could have been forgiven for looking on his desperate situation as hopeless, as it was regarded to be by just about everybody but him on the grid and along the pit lane.

But that is not Hamilton’s way. Defeatism is a distant threat to him and he carried to the start line images in his own mind only of a fightback.

I have seen all of his 97 career podiums and I would rank his Spa placing, having scrupulously fairly and painstakingly carefully picked his way through the traffic, as just about his best.

Sure, his refurbed car was perfectly behaved but he still had to delve deeply into his genius to steer clear of trouble and yet still give his bid for glory his finest efforts.

I cannot recall a split second of doubt or hesitation as he swept majestically along his 190-mile route to the finish line and into the Formula One history books with only admiration from the 100,000 sell-out crowd echoing in his wake.

Teammate Nico Rosberg, the start-to-stop winner, was surprised at the result of Hamilton’s relentless burst and, when he looked at the results as he roared under the chequered flag, he was, he confesses, taken aback.

And he admits he said to himself: ”What? Lewis in P3. Seriously?” He was not a lone voice in his amazement. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, too, was left hailing the 31-year-old three times champion’s masterpiece.

“He drove a squeaky clean race,” he beamed, ”he was just superb.”

That is why the German legends pay him £30 million (Dh146.2 million) a year.

Hamilton, whose championship lead was cut back to nine points, was fully aware that if he didn’t give it his all and dig deeply into his reserves of integrity, he could have been heading to this Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix with a deficit to make up.

Before he fled the buzz of excitement in Belgium and headed for Monza for round 14, he revealed his pre-race intent ahead of last Sunday’s damage limitation effort.

“I built up a positive mental attitude,” he said,” and it all came together. Sure, it was a steep mountain to climb to improve from where I started to where I finished, but we did it. Okay, I had to push a bit harder than normal — but I was up for it.

“You can never predict what is going to happen in a race. But this was all about trying to have the right approach and not be too aggressive and not too easy. And I didn’t take any unnecessary risks even though I was facing a packed field with some guys who are very hard to pass.”

Now for the Italian Job…..