Lewis Hamilton Inherits Victory After George Russell's Disqualification in Thrilling Belgian Grand Prix

As a new Formula 1 fan and a proud Brit, I was on the edge of my seat during the Belgian Grand Prix. The race was filled with excitement, surprises, and a bit of drama, culminating in a victory for Lewis Hamilton after his teammate George Russell was disqualified.

George Russell initially claimed victory, using a bold one-stop strategy to stay ahead of Hamilton, who finished just half a second behind. Russell's hard tyre strategy saw him hold off Hamilton's late charge, making it seem like he had secured his third Grand Prix win.

However, the post-race inspection revealed that Russell's car was underweight. A Technical Delegate’s Report stated that while the car initially met the minimum weight requirement of 798kg, the car was later found to be 1.5kg underweight after fuel draining. This led to Russell's disqualification, promoting Hamilton to first place, Oscar Piastri to second, and Charles Leclerc to third.

Russell's car was found to be compliant initially, but after removing 2.8 litres of fuel, the weight dropped to 796.5kg. The team admitted it was a genuine error, and despite the disappointment, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff accepted the decision, emphasizing the need to learn from the mistake.

The race started with Charles Leclerc on pole, but Hamilton quickly took the lead by the second lap. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, looked strong at Spa, a track where he has had much success in the past.

While most drivers opted for a two-stop strategy, Russell gambled with a one-stop plan. Despite Hamilton closing in during the final laps, Russell managed to cross the finish line first, only to be disqualified later.

Oscar Piastri, who finished third on track, was promoted to second place. Charles Leclerc, who started on pole and had a solid race, moved up to third. Max Verstappen, who had a strong recovery drive from P11 on the grid, finished fourth after the reshuffling.

Before the race, Max Verstappen's engine penalty dropped him to P11, promoting Leclerc to pole. The race saw a mix of strategies, with some opting for mediums and others for hards and softs.

Leclerc led initially, but Hamilton's early overtake set the tone. Zhou Guanyu faced issues early on, leading to his retirement. The pit stops especially the one-stop strategy by Russell, added to the race's excitement.

As a new F1 fan, this race was a rollercoaster of emotions. The thrill of seeing two British drivers fighting for the win, only to have the result change after the race, was intense. Hamilton's inherited victory adds another chapter to his legendary career, while Russell's disqualification was a tough lesson for the Mercedes team.

The Belgian Grand Prix showed why F1 is so captivating – it's not just about the speed and skill, but also the strategies, decisions, and sometimes, the unexpected twists that keep fans like me coming back for more.