"George Russell’s Stunning Strategy Secures Surprise Victory at Belgian GP Amid Technical Controversy for Mercedes"

2024-07-28 17:35:19

28/07/2024 07:01am.

George Russell didn’t make much noise. He started in 6th place, he let them battle him without getting into trouble, he watched from a distance as Hamilton, Leclerc and Piastri tried to dominate the pits to take the lead of the race and, when the moment passed in fact, he cut them all with ten minus more than a house. Because nobody saw that coming The British, with one pit stop, would carry on, and carry on until he saw the checkered flag. He, like the Mercedes strategists, not only saw it but believed it. So, when life seemed to be smiling on Lewis – he ran a perfect race -, could break the logic and the Belgian GP F1. Or at least that’s what he believed until his car visited the technical test, where it was removed from the competition for not being given the minimum weight (it was six and a half kilos below) required by the FIA.

“It is clear that we have made a mistake and we must make sure that we learn from it,” said Toto Wolff, principal of the Mercedes team, who took care of the mistake and promised to work so that the situation does not happen again in the future. In fact, the victory went to the hands of Lewis Hamilton, who had done all the merits on the asphalt to take the victory. When everything indicated that the seven-time world champion who started in 3rd place was going to be the winner, his team-mate left him behind on the challenging Spa circuit. However, the celebration eventually ended up happening in the pits. So Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc moved up one place in the rankings and completed the podium.

Hamilton and Russell took the first two steps of the podium in Belgium. (CHARACTERISTICS)

Mercedes is going up and Red Bull is not having the best moment

It is true that the 10 place penalty for an engine change had a lot to do with the 4th place finish for Max Verstappen (Red Bull)who took pole position, but it is no coincidence that in the last four races the energy drink brand did not win (three were from Mercedes and one from McLaren). So far, the Dutchman has the upper hand, but the first part of the year has just finished and there are still many championships to come. It will be until the end of August, when F1 travels to Monza for the Dutch GP and knows what each of them is for…

Verstappen is not having his best moment in F1. In any case, he maintains the dominance of the championship. (AP)

F1 in Belgium: the summary with videos, photos and more

28/07/2024, 11:40

The last jobs of the Belgian family doctor

1. Russell (Mercedes)
2. Hamilton (Mercedes)
3. Piastre (McLaren)
4. Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Verstappen (Red Bull)
6. Norris (McLaren)
7. Sainz (Ferrari)
8. Perez (Red Bull)
9. Alonso (Aston Martin)
10. Ocon (Alpine)
11. Ricciardo (RB)
12. Walking (Aston Martin)
13. Albon (Williams)
14. Gaslach (Alpine)
15. Magnussen (Haas)
16. Bottas (Sauber)
17. Tsunoda (RB)
18. Sergeant (Williams)
19. Hulkenberg (Haas)
20. Zhou (Sauber)

Two Mercedes and McLaren at the top. (CHARACTERISTICS)

28/07/2024, 12:20

This is the F1 championship

1. Verstappen: 275 points
2. Norris: 197
3. Width: 174
4. Plates: 164
5. Sainz: 160
6. Hamilton: 143
7. Russell: 140
8. Rank: 129

Verstappen continues to lead. (CHARACTERISTICS)

28/07/2024, 11:22

Russell wins in Belgium!

The Brit surprised everyone by finishing the race with one-stop strategy and won the Belgian GP. He was accompanied by Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Oscar Piastri (McLaren).

Russell took the checkered flag in first place. (AP)

28/07/2024, 11:09

Knee 36 | Piastri caught Leclerc for the podium

The Australian McLaren, who a few laps ago was faster than the Monegasque’s Ferrari, He placed 3rd after a nice maneuver.

28/07/2024, 11:01

Knee 31 | Russell will look to extend the period

The Mercedes driver leads, but with only one stop under his belt. From his team they told him that they are happy that he continues without stoppingmaybe waiting for a safety car or being able to help his teammate (Hamilton is 2nd with two catches).

28/07/2024, 10:47

The positions after lap 26 of the race

1. Plates
2. Crystal
3. Verstappen
4. Norris
5. Sainz
6. Hamilton (of the charts)
7. Leclerc (from the stops)
8. Pérez (two stops)
9. Ocon
10. Alonso
11. Gaseous
12. Botched
13. Walking
14. Ricciardo (from the charts)
15. Magnus
16. Albon (from the charts)
17. Tsunoda
18. Hulkenberg (from the charts)
19. Sergeant (of parades)

Zhou (dropped out)

Hamilton is leading the race. Although he has the lead, he is expected to regain it when the leaders stop. (AP)

28/07/2024, 10:43

Knee 22 | Checo made two stops in a few laps

Surprisingly, the Mexican stopped in the pits again and was in 8th place.

Additionally, following Sainz’s arrest, Hamilton once again led the race.

28/07/2024, 10:33

Generation 16 | Sainz went over and was miraculously saved

The Spaniard went into a corner at the border and hit the curb with two coins. He lost some time, but he is still at the beginning.

28/07/2024, 10:29

(VIDEO) The fight between Hamilton and Checo in the beginning

28/07/2024, 10:25

Generation 13 | Sainz is the new leader of the race

After the stops of Hamilton, Leclerc, Pérez and a few others, the Spaniard from Ferrari was positioned at the top. Because of the distance that separates them and the rhythm of each, when he stops Hamilton will find him (unless you suffer some trouble).

Sainz is two and a half seconds ahead of Norris. Of the group above, they were the only ones who didn’t stop. (CHARACTERISTICS)

28/07/2024, 10:23

Generation 11 | The candidates start to stop in the pits

George Russell (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) stopped in the pits and they came out in 12th and 14th place, respectively. Hamilton has already shown wear on his rear tires, and the first stop was on lap eight (from Hulkenberg), so further stops are expected.

28/07/2024, 10:28

Guanyu Zhou, the first drop out of the race

The Chinese, Sauber driver, had to retire because of mechanical failure.

28/07/2024, 10:16

Hamilton noticed an anomaly in the cockpit

“Something is moving near my feet”, was the wake-up call for his team. To pay attention to it.

28/07/2024, 10:09

Round 3 | Hamilton is the new leader of the race

The British reached the Kemmel just attached to Leclerc’s rear wing, there was no way to resist. It is worth remembering that Silverstone has won the champion seven times and is looking for his second success in a row.

28/07/2024, 10:04

Belgian GP has started!

Leclerc made a big move and escaped on his own. Behind him was a close fight between Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Pérez, with the seven-time champion remaining in the lead. Verstappen, who started 11th due to an engine change penalty, moved up one place.

The race started in Spa Francorchamps (REUTERS).

28/07/2024, 09:40

Everything ready for the Belgian GP: head of the machines to the main straight

28/07/2024, 09:00

The starting grid for the F1 race in Belgium

1. Leclerc
2. Pérez
3. Hamilton
4. Norris
5. Plates
6. Crystal
7. Sainz
8. Alonso
9. Ocon
10. Albania
11. Verstappen
12. Gaseous
13. Ricciardo
14. Botched
15. Walking
16. Hulkenberg
17. Magnussen
18. Sergeant
19. Zhou
20. Tsunoda

Hamilton will start just behind Leclerc. (REUTERS)

28/07/2024, 08:30

Colapinto did not have a good day in Formula 2

The Argentine was coming off a disappointing sprint race and was unable to turn the situation around in the feature, which saw him abandoned in the first lap due to mechanical failure in his MP Motorpsort machine (“I think it’s the clutch,” he said later). Read more.

Franco Colapinto had to retire in the first round of the feature race in Belgium, for Formula 2. (F2)

28/07/2024, 08:00

Sergio Pérez turned his hand to qualify

From accident to accident and questioned by his own team, Czechs (Red Bull) did not have a good time in F1. Spa, a different circuit for the mains and followers, gave him a chance of redemption: he finished 3rd in qualifying, rose to 2nd on the grid due to Verstappen’s penalty and he will go to victory that gives him air.

Leclerc and Pérez will make the front row. (EFE)

28/07/2024, 07:30

The polesitter can’t win: will the streak be extended?

28/07/2024, 07:00

Did Leclerc hit the road again?

After several difficult weeks, the Monegasque finished fourth in the race in Hungary and now he will start from the top in Belgium. What if he scores another victory for Ferrari, like the one he achieved in the Principality?

28/07/2024, 06:30

Max Verstappen took pole position, but…

Although the Dutchman (Red Bull) was the fastest in Saturday’s qualifying session, the truth is that The one who will start at the front is Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). As? Because before starting the tour in Belgium, the energy drink brand implemented the fifth engine change on Max’s car and it is four limits per season, for which he was penalized with 10 positions on the starting grid. To come back.

Verstappen will have to row from the middle of the table. (CHARACTERISTICS)

28/07/2024, 06:00

What time is the F1 race in Belgium and how to watch it

The traffic lights at Spa Francorchamps will go out at 10am from Argentina. The race will only be broadcast online, through the platform Disney + Premium.