Mercedes Assess Their Future
Mercedes couldn’t have asked for a more promising finish to the first half of the season than a one-two finish for George Russell and Lewis Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix. However, the joy quickly turned into disappointment as Russell was disqualified due to his car being under the required weight limit. The team is currently investigating the incident, with engineering director Andrew Shovlin suggesting that Russell’s one-stop strategy may have left their tyres lighter than anticipated by the end of the race.
The weight discrepancy was 1.5kg, equivalent to 375g per wheel, roughly the weight of two average household hamsters. Pirelli’s motorsport director pointed out that tyres can lose up to 1kg during a stint, a factor that is accounted for in pre-race calculations. The unexpected switch to a one-stop strategy might not have been considered initially. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that both Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda successfully executed a single-stop strategy and were not found to be underweight.
Regardless of the outcome of their investigation, the pain of this incident will linger for Russell. On the bright side, the team enters the summer break in stronger shape than they have been throughout the season. The car now shows significant potential to contend for wins at select tracks, and Russell is likely to get another chance this season. Hamilton commented, “We didn’t anticipate being competitive with McLaren and Red Bull at this stage of the season, given our start. Now that we’ve caught up, the second half of the season promises to be exciting.”
Time for Norris and McLaren to Refocus
Lando Norris, the main contender against Max Verstappen for this year’s title, is taking time away from racing to reflect on his performance. He acknowledges having made several minor mistakes in recent races that could undermine his chances of competing at the highest level. In Belgium, after starting fourth, he overshot a turn on the first lap, losing three positions and finishing behind Verstappen, who had started in 11th place at a crucial point where gaining points on the Dutchman was essential.
“I need the summer break to reset,” he stated. “I have squandered many points in the past three to four races due to avoidable mistakes and poor starts. They’ve been simple errors, nothing too complex.” Although Norris is known for being his own harsh critic, he understands that to challenge Verstappen, who now leads by 78 points, he mustn’t give him any leeway when he returns.
Lando Norris has faced several costly errors in recent races. Photograph: Leonhard Föger/Reuters
With ten races left this season, every point is crucial, yet McLaren has yet to focus exclusively on Norris over his teammate, Oscar Piastri. Team CEO Zak Brown mentioned they would review the situation during the summer break, all while keeping in mind another key goal: closing the 42-point gap to Red Bull in the constructors’ championship in hopes of clinching their first title in 25 years.
Verstappen Focused on the Finish
Holding a comfortable 78-point lead, Verstappen is firmly in control of the world championship over Norris. Even if McLaren has a better car, his advantage will be hard to overcome without at least one DNF. The 26-year-old is staying grounded, believing he could have had a real chance at victory in Belgium if not for a grid penalty, supported by his strong pace in both qualifying and the race. Nevertheless, he expects more from his team as they approach the final stretch for his potential fourth title.
The team will evaluate their performance ahead of the upcoming race at Zandvoort. The recently upgraded high-downforce aero package introduced in Hungary didn’t meet expectations, much to Verstappen’s frustration. They also need to consider when to refocus their efforts on next year’s car.
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Max Verstappen is calling for more performance from his Red Bull team. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
“With a car that isn’t currently the fastest in races, it’s important to minimize damage and stay as close as possible every time,” Verstappen commented. “I hope we can extract a bit more performance.” Despite the challenges, he can take comfort in a relaxing break, as with seven different winners this season, his competitors are consistently taking points from one another, making for thrilling racing while benefiting the leader in clear air.
Ferrari Faces Challenges Ahead
Belgium marked Ferrari’s most competitive race in recent times. Charles Leclerc showcased his skills yet again, securing a strong second place in qualifying, with Verstappen’s penalty granting him pole position, although he was still trailing behind the Dutchman. During the race, he managed to hold off Verstappen and Norris thanks to his advantageous track position, but he was well aware that without his qualifying performance, he likely would have finished behind both drivers.
After initially strong performances this season, the SF-24 has struggled to progress. A series of upgrades introduced in Spain that were intended to enhance performance in high-speed corners have led to bouncing issues. The team is currently addressing these setbacks, with Leclerc finishing only eight seconds behind Russell—a sign of progress, yet he remained adamant that Ferrari has much more work ahead for the latter half of the season.
“What makes me unhappy is that we have two Mercedes and one McLaren ahead of us,” Leclerc remarked after the race. “We believed we were at parity with Mercedes, so it’s disappointing to find ourselves in a worse position than expected.” He will be eager to improve when the racing resumes in August, and Hamilton will undoubtedly keep a close eye on Ferrari’s performance as well.
