In a stunning turn of events, George Russell has been disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix after his Mercedes was found to be underweight post-race. This disqualification elevates teammate Lewis Hamilton to the winner's podium.
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Initially, Russell clinched victory with a strategic one-stop race, carefully managing his hard tires to fend off Hamilton by just half a second at the finish line. However, a post-race Technical Delegate’s Report revealed discrepancies in the car's weight.
According to the report, the car initially met the minimum weight requirement of 798kg. However, after 2.8 liters of fuel were removed, it became apparent that the car had not been fully drained according to the team’s submitted legality documents. Upon re-weighing, the car measured 796.5 kg, which is 1.5 kg below the mandated minimum weight specified in TR Article 4.1. Consequently, the matter was referred to the stewards.
Following the stewards' review, Russell was officially disqualified, promoting Hamilton to P1, Oscar Piastri to P2, and Charles Leclerc to P3.
The stewards’ document detailed the proceedings: "During the hearing, the team representative confirmed the accuracy of the measurement and adherence to required procedures. The team acknowledged there were no mitigating circumstances, citing a genuine error."
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff commented on the situation before the stewards' decision was finalized, indicating that the team would accept the ruling. "We have to take it on the chin if the stewards decide against us," Wolff said. "It is what it is; the mistake happened."
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Wolff also expressed sympathy for Russell, noting the significant impact the decision would have on him: “We have to learn from this. As a team, there are more positives to take, but for George, it’s a massive blow.”
Despite the setback, the race at Spa remained a thrilling event, with Hamilton’s promotion marking his second victory of the 2024 season. The weekend's developments have undoubtedly added another layer of excitement and unpredictability to this year’s F1 championship.
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