Race Notes - Russell disqualified, Hamilton wins Belgium

By Mark Karp

George Russell won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps for a Mercedes 1-2 over Lewis Hamilton by 0.526 seconds in second place.

But after the race Russell was disqualified for his car being underweight, so the win went to Hamilton, who lead for most of the race, but was passed in the closing laps by his teammate running one shorter pitstop.

In the end, Oscar Piastri in the McLaren-Mercedes finished second, 1.173 seconds behind Russell.

Russell made his one stop at lap 10, and nursed his hard tyres for 34 laps, while almost all the other drivers opted for two stops.

The win is Hamilton’s second of the season, and 105th career victory.

Polesitter Charles Leclerc (8.549s) in the Ferrari was this, followed by Max Verstappen (9.226s) in the Red Bull-Honda was fourth, Lando Norris (9.850s) in the second McLaren was fifth, Carlos Sainz (19.795s) in the second Ferrari was sixth, Sergio Perez (43.195s) in the second Red Bull was seventh, Fernando Alonso (49.963s) in the Aston Marin-Mercedes was eighth, Esteban Ocon (52.552s) in the Alpine-Renault was ninth, and Daniel Ricciardo in the RB-Honda took the final point in tenth place.

After a rainy Saturday, the weather is fine before the start, with Leclerc starting on pole with Perez alongside on the front row, Hamilton and Norris on row 2, Piastri and Russell on row 3, Sainz and Alonso on row 4, Ocon and Albon rounding out the top ten, with Verstappen’s grid penalty having him start in 11th.

The drivers looking forward to a two-stop race. The first 12 cars starting on medium tyres, except Sainz on hards.

At the appointed time, the drivers made the formation lap and lined up on the grid, the lights went out, and the race began with Leclerc gets a good start, Hamilton getting into second with Perez, Piastri, Russell, Sainz, Norris, Alonso, Albon and Verstappen in tenth. Norris losing a few places.

At the bus stop chicancne Verstappen gets past Albon for ninth, then Alonso for eighth.

On lap 2 Verstappen is chasing Norris for seventh.

On lap 3 Hamilton passes Leclerc up the hill with DRS for the lead.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m45.109s.

Hulkenberg, Albon, and Ricciardo all pit.

At lap 10 Hamilton leads Leclec by 1.9 seconds, followed by Perez (4.3s), Piastri (5.5s), Russell (7.2s), Sainz (8.1s), Norris (9.0s), Verstappen (9.5s), Alonso (14.8s) in tenth place.

On lap 11 Russell and Verstappen pit for hard tyres, rejoining 12th and 14th.

The next lap Hamilton Perez, Piastri all pit for hard tyres, Leclerc retakes the lead.

Piastri and Russell battling for ninth.

On lap 13 Leclerc, Ocon and Stroll all pit.

Ver sets fast lap at 1m48.403s.

Piastri is up to sixth, Sainz and Norris yet to pit.

Piastri sets fastest lap at 1m47.565s.

Norris pits for hard tyres.

At lap 16 Sainz leads Hamilton by 6.5 seconds, followed by Leclerc (7.8s), Piastri (10.3), Perez (11.7s), Russell (12.3s), Verstappen (12.7s), Norris (18.0s), Magnussen (26.1s), and Albon (27.6s) in tenth place.

On lap 17 Norris sets fast lap at 1m47.522s.

Sainz is continuing to lead on the hard tyres he started on, and leads Hamilton by 3.4 seconds.

Bottas passes Hulkenberg for 14th.

On lap 21 Sainz pits from the lead for medium tyres and rejoins eighth behind Norris.

Russell passes Perez for fourth place.

On lap 22 Perez pits from fifth for hard tyres and rejoins eighth.

On lap 23 Ricciardo passes Sargeant for 16th.

Perez sets fast lap at 1m47.223s.

Tsunoda is battling Sargeant for 17th.

At lap 25 Hamilton leads Leclerc by 2.3 seconds, followed by Piastri (4.7s), Russell (9.2s), Verstappen (11.0s), Norris (12.3s), Sainz (16.2s), Perez (26.8s), Ocon (35.2s), and Alonso (39.1s) in tenth.

On lap 26 Leclerc pits from second for hard tyres and rejoins seventh.

Ricciardo passes Magnussen for 14th.

On lap 27 Hamilton pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins sixth, ahead of Leclerc. Piastri takes over the lead.

Albon passes Magnussen for 15th.

Piastri sets fast lap at 1m47.024s.

On lap 29 Verstappen and Sainz pit for medium and hard tyres.

On lap 30 Norris pits for hard tyres and rejoins seventh behind Verstappen.

On lap 31 Piastri pits for hard tyres and rejoins fourth.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m46.447s.

Norris passes Perez for sixth place.

At lap 32 Russell leads Hamilton by 7.2 seconds, followed by Leclerc (9.3s), Piastri (11.7s), Verstappen (15.1s), Norris (15.8s), Perez (20.2s), Sainz (24.1s), Alonso (39.5s), and Bottas (44.7s) in tenth place.

Piastri is closing on Leclerc in third.

With 10 laps to go, Russell on a one-stopper is nursing his tyres, with Hamilton within 4.5 seconds.

Norris pressing Verstappen in fifth.

On lap 36 Piastri passes Leclerc for third.

On lap 38 Russell leads Hamilton by 2.1 seconds.

On lap 39 Sainz passes Perez for seventh.

At lap 40 Russell leads Hamilton by 1.1 seconds, followed by Piastri (5,7s), Leclerc (9.6s), Verstappen (10.4s), Norris (11.0s), Sainz (22.3s), Perez (23.9s), Alonso (46.6s), and Ricciardo (52.4s) in tenth.

Hamilton is right on Russell’s tail.

On lap 43 Perez pits from eighth for soft tyres.

Across the finish line Russell leads Hamilton and Piastri.

On the final lap Perez set fastest lap at 1m44.701s.