Featured Image Credit: Viaplay / Twitter/@GeorgeRussell63
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Formula 1, Mercedes
Ryan Smart
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Formula 1, Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton has responded for the first time to winning the Belgian Grand Prix after Mercedes team-mate George Russell was disqualified.
Russell initially took the chequered flag ahead of Hamilton at Spa-Franchorchamps after successfully pulling off a one-stop strategy.
Hamilton did a two-stop after leading the majority of the race before his second stop, and closed in on his team-mate in the latter stages but could not get past. McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished close behind them in third.
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After the race, the seven-time world champion commented on how his tyres felt 'fine' in both stints - an indication that he felt he could have pulled off a one-stop and won the race.
But Russell would later be disqualified after it was found that his Mercedes was 1.5kg overweight, with Sky Sports F1 pundit and former Aston Martin strategy engineer Bernie Collins believing this may have been down to his worn tyres losing too much rubber and the lack of a cooldown lap, which would have allowed him to pick up most of that lost rubber.
Hamilton, therefore, inherited victory for his second win in two races - and took to Instagram hours after the news of Russell's disqualification was confirmed.
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He wrote: "Mixed feelings for today's result. Obviously happy to get the win but I feel for George and it's disappointing for the team not to get the 1-2.
"A lot of positives to take from today, though. At the start of the weekend, we didn't expect to be at the front or the pace we had, so it's great to see just how much progress has been made and that we are in the fight.
"We take all these positives with us into the break and will come back stronger team ready to keep momentum going."
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Although he inherited the win this time, Hamilton will know how Russell is feeling, having experienced a similar feeling after last season's United States Grand Prix in Austin.
The 39-year-old finished in second place on track behind Max Verstappen, but he and third-placed Charles Leclerc were both disqualified after the FIA found that the plank on their car underfloors were too thin - caused by excessive wear during the Grand Prix.