Lewis Hamilton secures 105th race win following FIA’s shock George Russell Spa-disqualification verdict 

George Russell's car was found to be lesser than the permitted weight by the FIA upon inspection after the race.

Lewis Hamilton secures 105th race win following FIA’s shock George Russell Spa-disqualification verdict 

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (via IMAGO)

Mercedes driver George Russell has been disqualified as the winner after racing with an underweight W15 at the Belgian Grand Prix. The FIA confirmed that Russell’s car was 1.5 kilograms below the specified weight limit during the race on Sunday.

Following the FIA’s verdict, Lewis Hamilton has been declared the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix winner, having finished in second place. Hamilton’s win increases his career victory tally to a mammoth 105 and is his second of the 2024 season.

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George Russell was mighty during the race at Spa, efficiently managing a one-stop strategy to cross the finish line at P1. However, the 26-year-old will be disheartened despite his valiant efforts, which ended in heartbreak for him.

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After the Race, car number 63 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 weighed again on the FIA inside and outside scales and the weight was 796.5 kg. 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.
FIA Formula 1 Technical Delegate Jo Bauer quoted in his copy to the stewards

The Silver Arrows have hence been stripped of a greatly desired 1-2 finish after Russell’s omission from the Belgian GP. They will now regroup as a team to discuss the issues causing an improperly distributed W15 during the summer break.

Andrea Stella applauds George Russell for valiant performance despite disqualification

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has praised George Russell for his brilliant win on a one-stop strategy in Spa. Stella claimed that the 26-year-old’s performance was courageous despite facing pressure from his teammate.

Andrea Stella and George Russell
Andrea Stella and George Russell (via IMAGO)
We were expecting that Lewis [Hamilton] could have overtaken George and then George would have been an easier target. But he did such a good job of keeping the lead, despite the old tyres so it’s just a good job by George Russell.
Andrea Stella via RaceFans

Andrea Stella said that Hamilton was expected to overtake Russell because he was on fresher tires. However, the latter held on to his lead with tires that were more than 30 laps old to cross the finish line first at Spa-Francorchamps.

McLaren will also be pleased with their efforts, in which they secured P2 after Russell’s disqualification. The two teams will now look to resume on a fresher note after the 2024 summer break.

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