“HEARTBREAKING”: George Russell Speaks Out After Being Stripped Of Belgian GP Victory Due To Underweight Car
George Russell has finally broken his silence following a dramatic turn of events that saw him stripped of his victory at the Belgian Grand Prix. The young driver, who appeared to execute a flawless one-stop strategy, initially crossed the finish line ahead of his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton. However, Russell’s joy was short-lived as news of his disqualification emerged hours later.
Russell’s car was found to be 1.5 kilograms underweight after the race. Despite the initial weighing showing his car at 798kg—meeting the minimum weight requirement for car and driver combined—the stewards discovered that the car had not been fully drained of fuel. This adjustment led to a revised weight of 796.5kg, resulting in Russell’s disqualification.
Following the announcement, Russell took to social media to express his disappointment. He wrote: “Heartbreaking… We came in 1.5kg underweight and have been disqualified from the race. We left it all on the track today and I take pride in crossing the line first. There will be more to come.” Russell’s disqualification saw Hamilton promoted to first place, with Oscar Piastri moving up to second.
Hamilton also shared his thoughts on the unexpected turn of events. On Instagram, he said: “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 a stronger team ready to keep the momentum going.”
Hamilton’s reflections underscore the bittersweet nature of his victory, as the team’s success was overshadowed by Russell’s misfortune. In a show of solidarity, Russell shared Hamilton’s post, adding: “Congrats on the win @lewishamilton,” accompanied by a trophy emoji.
As the Formula 1 season continues, the incident highlights the razor-thin margins and strict regulations that define the sport. Russell’s reaction and Hamilton’s support reflect the camaraderie and competitive spirit that drive the team, even amidst adversity
