George Russell Disqualified from Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton Claims 105th F1 Win
George Russell was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix after his Mercedes Formula 1 car was found to be underweight post-race. This unexpected development handed victory to his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, marking Hamilton’s 105th career win and his second victory of the season.
Russell’s car initially passed the minimum weight requirement of 798kg. However, after 2.8 liters of fuel were drained to obtain a one-liter sample for scrutineering, the car weighed 796.5kg, falling 1.5kg short of the mandated limit. The FIA’s technical delegate confirmed the car’s weight, leading to Russell’s disqualification from the results.
The stewards’ report detailed the findings: “Car 63 was weighed on the FIA inside and outside scales with both scales showing the same result of 796.5 kg. The calibration of both scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor. During the hearing, the team representative confirmed that the measurement is correct and that all required procedures were performed correctly. The team also acknowledged that there were no mitigating circumstances and that it was a genuine error by the team.”
This decision significantly impacted the final standings of the Belgian Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri moved up to second place, and Charles Leclerc was classified third after successfully holding off Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in the race’s closing stages. Verstappen finished fourth, extending his lead in the championship, while Norris secured fifth place.
Hamilton’s victory came after a nail-biting finish where he initially lost the lead to Russell, who executed a one-stop strategy, a rarity at Spa-Francorchamps. Russell, known for his “tyre whisperer” abilities, managed to hold off Hamilton on older tyres until the final laps. Despite Hamilton’s aggressive pursuit, overtaking proved difficult, and Russell crossed the line first before the disqualification.
Hamilton expressed mixed emotions after the race: “We had such a disaster on Friday, the car was nowhere. We made some changes, it was hard to know what it would be like in the wet yesterday, and the car was fantastic today. George did a great job going long on the tyres, every stint I had tyres left but the team pulled me in.”
Oscar Piastri, who finished second, acknowledged McLaren’s progress: “We have work to do, but we’ve made significant inroads on Red Bull. The car was feeling great, and I was able to catch and pass Leclerc in the final laps.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc managed to fend off challenges from Verstappen and Norris to secure the final podium spot. Verstappen, who started 11th on the grid due to a penalty, made significant progress but couldn’t climb higher than fourth.
The disqualification dropped Russell to eighth in the driver’s championship standings, while Hamilton’s victory boosted his tally to 150 points, just 12 points shy of Carlos Sainz, who holds fifth place in the standings.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the error and its consequences: “You have to take it on the chin if the stewards decide against us. It is what it is, a mistake has happened, and we need to learn from it. It’s a massive blow for George, but he’s going to win many more races.”
The Belgian Grand Prix, held at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, is known for its challenging conditions and unpredictable weather. This year’s race added another chapter to its storied history with Russell’s disqualification and Hamilton’s record-extending win.
Formula 1 now heads into the summer break, with the next race scheduled at Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix on August 23-25. The championship battle remains intense, with every race bringing new twists and turns in the quest for the title.