Mercedes’ George Russell was disqualified on Sunday after winning the Belgian Grand Prix for driving an underweight car FILE - Mercedes’ George Russell was disqualified on Sunday after winning the Belgian Grand Prix for driving an underweight car. Photo: Florion Goga/AFP
George Russell was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday after his Mercedes was found to be underweight following the race, handing victory to teammate Lewis Hamilton.
A technical report released after the race said Russell's car was found to be 1.5kg below the minimum weight limit for car and driver combined.
Heartbreaking… We came in 1.5kg underweight and have been disqualified from the race.
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) July 28, 2024
We left it all on the track today and I take pride in crossing the line first.
There will be more to come.🏆![CDATA[]]>💙 pic.twitter.com/6RfucAqPyF
"Car 63 is disqualified from the race classification," the stewards announced in a statement.
"All other drivers move up in the classification," they added.
The 26-year-old Briton started in sixth place on the grid before edging Hamilton in second and McLaren's Oscar Piastri who came third.
Russell drove the 44-laps race with only one pit stop which led to him going 34 laps on his second set of tyres, a strategic decision taken during the contest enabling him to take the lead and an unexpected third career victory.
"Heartbreaking," Russell said on social media.
"We came in 1.5kg underweight and have been disqualified from the race.
Unfortunately George has been disqualified for his car being below the minimum required weight. Here’s Toto’s reaction. pic.twitter.com/a3qJLyrwr8
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) July 28, 2024
"We left it all on the track today and I take pride in crossing the line first.
"There will be more to come," he added.
Russell's car was initially weighed at 798kg, which is exactly on the minimum weight limit for car and driver combined.
But stewards found the car had not been fully drained of fuel.
"The car was weighed again on the FIA inside and outside scales and the weight was 796.5kg," the statement said.
"The calibration of the outside and inside scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor."
As a result, Russell's teammate Hamilton now takes the victory, the 105th of his career and second of the season.
Piastri takes second while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc moves on to the podium in third.
AFP
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