George Russell Reflects on Disqualification at Belgian Grand Prix

George Russell remains optimistic about his performance at the Belgian Grand Prix, despite being disqualified due to his car being under-weight. The Mercedes driver initially celebrated what he believed was his third Formula 1 victory after executing a successful one-stop strategy at Spa-Francorchamps, finishing ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. However, post-race checks revealed the weight issue, leading to Russell's removal from the official results and the loss of 25 championship points. In a press conference ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Russell expressed his frustration but emphasized a positive outlook. "Of course, it’s very frustrating that the one time in three years we’ve been just under the weight limit was the race we won," he stated. He maintained that the experience was still a victory in his mind, highlighting the joy of celebrating with his team immediately after the race. Russell plans to keep his helmet from the event as a reminder of the achievement. Russell also addressed the factors contributing to the weight issue, acknowledging that Mercedes underestimated the weight loss during the race. He noted that tire wear and plank degradation were more significant than anticipated, which ultimately led to the disqualification. As he prepares for the upcoming race in the Netherlands, Russell aims to recover from this setback, currently sitting eighth in the championship standings, 34 points behind Hamilton.