SPA, BELGIUM – JULY 28: George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes, who initially celebrated as the winner of the Belgian Grand Prix, was disqualified after his car was found to be underweight. As a result, Lewis Hamilton, Russell’s teammate, has been awarded the victory in the race held at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday.
The disqualification, the first of its kind since the 2023 U.S. Grand Prix, was confirmed by the stewards following an inspection that revealed Russell’s car was 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds) under the minimum weight limit of 798 kg (1,759.29 pounds) after fuel was drained. The FIA had required a sample of 2.8 liters of fuel, but discrepancies in the draining procedure led to the underweight finding.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the error, stating, “We’ve clearly made a mistake and need to learn from it. Losing a 1-2 finish is frustrating, but Lewis is a deserving winner.” Wolff also emphasized that despite the disqualification, the team had shown strong performance and would aim to continue their positive trajectory after the summer break.
Jo Bauer, the FIA Formula One technical delegate, explained that Russell’s car was initially weighed at the minimum limit before fuel removal. After draining, it was reweighed and found to be under the required weight, according to Article 4.1 of the technical regulations.
In a post-race statement, Wolff refrained from discussing the specifics of the car’s condition but acknowledged that any potential issues with weight were not an excuse for the breach. He commended Russell for his strong race performance but highlighted the need for the team to address and rectify the error.
The incident has sparked discussions about potential contributing factors, including tire wear and lack of a cool-down lap that typically helps offset weight loss. The team plans to review these aspects and ensure compliance moving forward.
Hamilton’s victory marks another win for Mercedes as they head into the summer break, having won three of the past four races.
