Lewis Hamilton was declared the winner of the Belgian Grand Prix after his teammate George Russell was disqualified for driving an underweight car. Russell had crossed the finish line first, celebrating what would have been his third career victory. However, race officials discovered that his car weighed below the established limits, leading to his disqualification.
Despite the disappointment, Russell expressed pride in crossing the line first and acknowledged the team’s ability to still secure the victory with Hamilton. Hamilton’s win marked his 105th career victory, further solidifying his status as a seven-time world champion. This recent success comes after his triumph at Silverstone, which ended his long-awaited winless streak dating back to 2021.
Hamilton’s resurgence is particularly notable as he has made the decision to switch teams and join Ferrari next season, ending his 12-year tenure with Mercedes. Reflecting on Russell’s disqualification, Hamilton expressed empathy for his teammate and emphasized the competitive nature of Formula 1 racing.
In the revised results, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri moved up to second place, while Charles Leclerc of Ferrari claimed the final spot on the podium. Max Verstappen, the current points leader, finished fourth after starting from 11th due to a grid penalty. Verstappen’s closest championship rival, Lando Norris of McLaren, had a poor start and finished fifth, extending Verstappen’s lead by 78 points.
Russell’s disqualification overshadowed what was considered a remarkable display of tire management. Despite starting from sixth, he made only one pit stop and managed to fend off Hamilton, who had made two stops. Russell’s team radio dubbed him “the tire whisperer,” but unfortunately, his efforts went in vain.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the mistake that led to Russell’s disqualification and expressed frustration at losing a potential 1-2 finish. Despite a challenging start to the season, Mercedes has now won three of the last four races, with Russell winning in Austria and Hamilton triumphing in Britain.
The competitiveness of this season is evident, with McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari all showcasing similar pace and avoiding major crashes. The top six drivers finished within 10 seconds of each other, highlighting the importance of pit-stop and tire strategies. In fact, this season has already been deemed the most competitive since 2012, with seven different winners in the 13 races following the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s winless streak now extends to four races after his dominant start to the season. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished sixth, followed by Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez, who had a disappointing performance. Fernando Alonso secured eighth place for Aston Martin, with Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo closing out the points for Alpine and Red Bull, respectively.
The Spa track, known for its picturesque setting in the Ardennes forests, is the longest circuit in Formula 1. While rain affected the Formula 2 race the previous day, the Belgian Grand Prix remained dry on Sunday. With the season now entering a summer break, the next race will take place in the Netherlands on August 25th.