George Russell’s Belgian GP Win Stripped Away For Racing With Underweight Car, Lewis Hamilton Named New Winner – News18

George Russell’s Belgian Grand Prix victory on Sunday has been stripped away from him as officials at the race reported his Mercedes car as being potentially underweight, with Lewis Hamilton taking the top spot.

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 and when it was, its weight was just 796.5kg.

Now that Russell is disqualified, Hamilton is given the victory with Piastri taking second and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third.

The 26-year-old Briton started sixth on the grid before edging Mercedes team-mate Lewis 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.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who started on pole position, came home fourth ahead of three-time world champion and series leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull, Lando Norris in the second McLaren and Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari.

Sergio Perez, who started second, finished eighth in the second Red Bull ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and Esteban Ocon of Alpine.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)