George Russell surprised the Formula 1 world with a remarkable one-stop strategy at the Belgian Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes one-two finish with Lewis Hamilton. Russell claimed his second win of the season by expertly managing his tires over the 44-lap race. Despite starting from sixth, Russell’s decision to stick to a one-stop strategy paid off, allowing him to stay ahead of Hamilton and other competitors who pitted twice. Hamilton finished second ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
Max Verstappen, the points leader, finished fifth behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc after starting from 11th due to a grid penalty. Lando Norris finished sixth, helping Verstappen extend his championship lead. Russell attributed his victory to his team’s strategists and praised the car’s performance, acknowledging it as a collective effort.
Mercedes, after a tough start to the season, has now won three of the last four races, with Russell’s victory in Austria and Hamilton’s win in Britain. The race showcased the competitiveness among Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari, with pit-stop and tire strategies playing a crucial role in determining the outcome. The top six finishers crossed the line within 10 seconds of each other.
With the Belgian Grand Prix adding to the thrilling Formula 1 season, the relentless competition has seen seven different winners in the 13 races following the Hungarian Grand Prix. Verstappen, who started the season strong with four wins in the first five races, has now gone four races without a victory. The Spa track, known for its challenging terrain in the Ardennes forests, witnessed a dry race after rain delays the previous day that affected other events.
As the season enters a summer break before the Dutch Grand Prix on August 25, the Formula 1 grid will be gearing up for continued battles to secure crucial championship points.
