George Russell disqualified after winning F1 Belgian Grand Prix
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George Russell has been disqualified from Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix in a shock turn of events after his sensational victory – with Lewis Hamilton consequently claiming the win.
In an initial post-race check, Russell’s Mercedes car was found to be 1.5 kg under the weight permitted in the regulations following the obligatory drainage of fuel.
The matter was referred to the FIA stewards, who confirmed that Russell has been disqualified from the race classification at Spa-Francorchamps.
Russell’s disqualification means team-mate Hamilton, who finished second, claims his 105th F1 win. Hamilton’s car was found to be over the permitted weight. Oscar Piastri is elevated to second, with Charles Leclerc up to third.
The FIA said in a statement: “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.”
British driver Russell opted for a bold one-stop strategy to earn a famous third win in F1 – but it may have been this tactic which resulted in the car’s fall in weight, reportedly due to unexpected tyre wear.
An initial report from FIA Technical Delegate Jo Bauer read: “After the race, car number 63 (Russell) was weighed and its weight was 798.0 kg, which is the minimum weight required by TR Article 4.1.
“After this, fuel was drained out of the car and 2.8 litres of fuel were removed. The car was not fully drained according to the draining procedure submitted by the team in their legality documents as TR Article 6.5.2 is fulfilled.
“The car was weighed again on the FIA inside and outside scales and the weight was 796.5 kg. The calibration of the outside and inside scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor.
“As this is 1.5 kg below the minimum weight requested in TR Article 4.1, which also has to be respected at all times during the competition, I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration.”
Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified from last year’s US Grand Prix in similar circumstances, after both were found to have breached the rules governing the floor of their cars.
Sven-time F1 world champion Hamilton assumed the lead of the race on lap three of 44, but Russell, who started sixth, had other plans and he adopted a bold one-stop strategy to outfox his rivals.
Russell crossed the line a mere half a second ahead of Hamilton, but it is now rendered irrelevant after Russell was stripped of his win.
After the race, a jubilant Russell was lauded as “the tyre whisperer” by team principal Toto Wolff over the radio.
The Mercedes boss added after the stewards’ verdict: “We have to take it on the chin. A mistake has happened and a one-two would have been a great result going into the summer break.
“We have to learn from that. As a team there were positives but for George it is a massive blow for it to be taken away. He is going to win more.”
Max Verstappen started 11th following an engine penalty and after the post-race change finishes fourth, one place ahead of a disappointed Lando Norris, to extend his championship lead over the British driver heading into Formula One’s four-week summer shutdown.