George Russell clinched victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, achieving a surprising win for Mercedes at Spa Francorchamps following an exhilarating and intensely competitive showdown with his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who finished in second place, ensuring a Mercedes one-two finish.
Russell’s success was attributed to a daring one-stop strategy that ultimately proved advantageous. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured third place, while Charles Leclerc of Ferrari came in fourth. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen surged from 11th on the grid to finish fifth for Red Bull, significantly extending his championship lead over Lando Norris, who finished sixth.
Russell’s tactical choice to pursue a one-stop strategy granted him crucial track position on worn tyres in the race’s final stages. The British driver skillfully managed to fend off a relentless challenge from Hamilton, who had made two stops. This victory marked the pinnacle of Russell’s career, showcasing his deftness and composure as Hamilton pressured him until the very end.
Verstappen’s impressive recovery performance is noteworthy, though Norris will likely feel let down by not being able to achieve more, with the world champion now 78 points ahead in the standings.
Russell’s remarkable drive not only secured him his third career win but also marked Mercedes’ third victory in the last four races. The 26-year-old from King’s Lynn may have benefited from a win in Austria due to a collision between Norris and Verstappen, but this triumph was thoroughly earned. The race was executed with impeccable precision amid great pressure, showcasing both Russell and Mercedes at their best, as they celebrated their first one-two finish since Brazil in 2022.
Initially starting from sixth on the grid, Russell didn’t seem positioned for a win. Hamilton took the lead from Leclerc early on and looked comfortable leading, while Piastri climbed to third following the first round of stops.
Russell made an early stop on lap 10 of 44, just as the frontrunners battled for position. As the race progressed, Russell began to sense increasing grip and proposed to the team a switch to a one-stop strategy.
By lap 24, Hamilton maintained a two-second lead over Leclerc. The Ferrari driver made his final pit stop on lap 25, which Mercedes covered a lap later, allowing Hamilton to emerge ahead of Leclerc.
George Russell heads the podium after the Belgium GP, alongside second-placed Lewis Hamilton (left) and Oscar Piastri. Photograph: Peter Fox/Formula 1/Getty Images
After the second pit stops, Russell led with a six-second margin over Hamilton, who perceived Piastri as his principal competitor, with the Australian demonstrating impressive speed in third with just ten laps left. Norris was pursuing Verstappen, while Piastri executed a brilliant pass on Leclerc at Les Combes on lap 36 and began chasing Hamilton.
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With seven laps to go, Hamilton was four seconds behind Russell, while Piastri trailed Hamilton by five seconds. The intervals closed as the laps progressed, but as Piastri’s tyres began to fade, Hamilton matched his pace and gradually closed in on Russell.
By lap 40, the two leaders were just one second apart, with Hamilton gaining speed. Mercedes informed both drivers they could race each other for the win. Despite his tyres nearing their limit, Russell defended vigorously as Hamilton applied pressure from behind in the final laps, with Piastri also joining the fray.
Kudos to Mercedes for allowing their drivers to compete; the last laps were exceptionally tense, but Russell successfully maintained his lead after a courageous and skilled race, managing his tyres for 34 laps to cross the finish line a mere half a second ahead of his teammate.
Carlos Sainz finished seventh for Ferrari, Sergio Pérez took eighth for Red Bull, Fernando Alonso was ninth for Aston Martin, and Esteban Ocon rounded out the top ten for Alpine.
