George Russell uses strategy to lead Mercedes double as McLaren continues to stalk Red Bull in the world championship

Not even the most dedicated Mercedes fan could have predicted what happened at the Spa race. George Russell has taken victory ahead of Lewis Hamiltonsigning a totally unexpected double before the race, since McLaren and Red Bull seemed the favourites. Russell’s strategy has been key.

In the fight for the world championship, it seems that there will definitely not be much of a battle in the drivers’ categories, since Max Verstappen has managed to get ahead of Lando Norris even starting eleventh. But in the constructors’ category McLaren takes another bite out of Red Bull before the summer thanks to Oscar Piastri’s podium and Sergio Pérez’s collapse.

Alonso finishes ninth, also making one stop

Russell has taken a strategic victory at Spa. The British driver was the only one of those fighting for victory to make a stop, and that allowed him to take the lead when in reality he was not even in the podium zone. Afterwards, Russell has resisted the attacks of a timid Hamilton to seal the double.

Hamilton led almost the entire raceHe passed Perez at the start and then stormed to the front by overtaking Charles Leclerc in the opening laps. But just when he thought he had the race under control, he came up against an attack from his own teammate that left him without a win at Spa.

The last laps have been exciting, as the fight between the two Mercedes was joined by a Piastri who was much faster with his McLarenwhich ended up stuck to Hamilton’s rear wing. The young Australian will surely regret the time lost due to a driving error when entering the pits, in which he braked too hard.

In any case, there was joy at McLaren, who, in addition to having Piastri on the podium, have placed Norris ahead of Pérez. McLaren is now just 43 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ championship, which means that mathematically they could come out as leaders in the next race, in Zandvoort, after the holidays.

Somewhat bittersweet flavor because Norris loses ground in the world championship with VerstappenThe Briton made a mistake at the start and ended up frustrated, stuck to Verstappen’s wing, unable to overtake him. Fifth and sixth place for the two title contenders, two points behind Norris and one race less.

WHAT A TRIP!

Piastri miscalculated and ended up displacing the cat man #BelgicaDAZNF1 pic.twitter.com/5Hk33VMTlx

— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) July 28, 2024

Perez’s mirage lasted little after qualifyingHe finished eighth, the slowest of the fast cars, and was stopped on the last lap by Red Bull so that he could do the fastest lap. He was even overtaken by Carlos Sainz, who Ferrari put on a bad strategy but who was at least able to salvage a seventh place.

Charles Leclerc was in the podium zone throughout the raceeven dreamed of victory when he launched an undercut in the final stint, but he finished fourth, surprised by Russell’s strategy and overtaken by Piastri, who had plenty of speed in his McLaren. At least he held off Verstappen in the final laps.

Success in the pits also for Aston Martin, who have managed to Fernando Alonso finished in ninth positionThe Asturian made one stop, like Russell, and took advantage of a race that had become complicated. Tenth place goes to the Alpine of Esteban Ocon, who scratches the last point.

Formula 1 GP Belgium 2024 race results

Formula 1 general classification

1st. Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull-HOL), 275 points

2nd. Lando NORRIS (McLaren-GBR), 197 points

3rd. Charles LECLERC (Ferrari-MON), 174 points

4th. Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren-AUS), 164 points

5º. Carlos SAINZ (Ferrari-ESP), 160 points