In an unexpected twist at the Belgian Grand Prix, George Russell trumped the legendary Lewis Hamilton with a masterful one-stop strategy.
George Russell secured a stunning victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, outwitting Lewis Hamilton. This race, filled with strategic plays and dramatic turns, kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Russell’s clever one-stop strategy paid off, giving him the upper hand over Hamilton, who dominated for most of the race. Oscar Piastri secured a remarkable third place for McLaren, proving his mettle in a highly competitive field.
Max Verstappen, starting from 11th due to an engine-change penalty, impressively climbed his way up to fifth place. He managed to fend off Lando Norris, his distant title rival, who finished sixth after an early mishap dropped him positions.
Sergio Perez, who started the race in second, experienced a challenging day, falling to eighth. His drop allowed one of his potential replacements at Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo, to come close to achieving a point finish for RB.
At the race start, Charles Leclerc led from pole, but his lead was short-lived. Hamilton swiftly moved up to second, then took the lead using his DRS, leaving Leclerc behind. Varying tire strategies then became the focal point as the race progressed.
Norris’ early mistake at La Source cost him three places, enabling Verstappen to catch up quickly. Carlos Sainz, unique among the leaders for starting on hard tires, initially held off Norris before both cycled to the front as others pitted.
Russell, making significant gains from the start, tussled with Piastri in the pits. Piastri managed to edge ahead initially, but Russell stayed close, eventually overtaking Sergio Perez by the midpoint of the race.
The second stint saw Norris pit behind Verstappen. Hamilton and Leclerc seemed steady at the front, while Russell pressured Perez further. Red Bull then pitted Perez out of Verstappen’s way.
Hamilton, maintaining his lead after pitting, saw Russell ask his team to consider a one-stop strategy. Russell’s pace remained strong despite Hamilton gaining ground on fresh hard tires.
Russell’s strategy proved effective; he held a seven-second lead as Hamilton closed in near the end. Despite closing the gap, Hamilton couldn’t pass, and Russell clinched his third F1 career win.
Piastri, showing impressive speed in the final stint, caught and passed Leclerc. A mere 1.1 seconds separated the top three by the end, with Leclerc finishing fourth, 7.3 seconds behind Piastri.
Verstappen and Norris, vying for fifth and sixth, both managed to overtake Perez during their second stops. Verstappen held off Norris, thanks to DRS, to secure fifth place.
Carlos Sainz snatched seventh from Perez with five laps to go, as Red Bull pitted Perez a third time to chase the fastest lap bonus point. Fernando Alonso finished ninth, and Esteban Ocon completed the top ten.
The race had only one retirement: Zhou Guanyu of Sauber, who exited early due to a hydraulics issue.
In an unforgettable race, Russell’s smart tactics and unwavering pace secured a well-earned victory at Spa. This thrilling Grand Prix showcased the strategic depth and competitive spirit that keeps fans coming back for more.
