Fortune favours the bold and for George Russell, the bravest of calls delivered the very sweetest of rewards.
With 12 laps to go, the question came from Mercedes to Russell. Having stopped on lap 10, would Russell risk it all by switching to a one-stop strategy, just as all his rivals dived back into the pits for a second time?
The answer came loud and clear. Russell chose to stick, rather than twist.
His team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, looked set to be the beneficiary of that call. On fresher tyres, he looked to be holding all of the aces.
But as the laps counted down, Russell stood firm all the way to the chequered flag to cap a brilliant drive having started sixth.
+7
View gallery
George Russell pictured celebrating after winning Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa
+7
View gallery
Russell was visibly delighted following the race, which he won in a time of 1:19:57.040
+7
View gallery
It was a good day for Mercedes as Russell finished just ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton
+7
View gallery
However, Hamilton looked a little disappointed in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s race
‘We definitely didn’t predict this result this morning in our strategy meeting,’ said Russell, who made it three wins in six races for Mercedes.
‘I kept saying we could do a one-stop. It was a team effort. The strategy guys did a brilliant job.’
Sixth was where McLaren’s Lando Norris ended up as he failed to close the gap on Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.
There have been plenty of false dawns already this season for Norris and McLaren. And on a day where he simply had to capitalise on the 10-place grid penalty handed to title rival Max Verstappen, it was the fine margins which saw that opportunity evade his grasp again.
It was another disastrous start from Norris, who dropped three places to seventh by the end of the opening lap after running wide at the first corner. Verstappen, meanwhile, had climbed two places and to within two of the McLaren driver.
Up front, Hamilton’s early pace was eye-catching and he had no issue in gliding past Charles Leclerc and out of DRS range to prevent the Ferrari driver from mounting a reply.
BELGIAN GRAND PRIX: TOP 10
1. George Russell (Mercedes) 1:19:57.040
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.526
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +1.173
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +8.549
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +9.226
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) +9.850
7. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +19.795
8. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +43.195
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +49.963
10. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +52.552
+7
View gallery
Russell was mobbed by members of his crew following Sunday’s impressive victory at Spa
+7
View gallery
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (left) – who finished third in the race – pictured shaking Russell’s hand
+7
View gallery
Russell pictured on top of the podium at Spa, flanked by Hamilton (left) and Piastri (right)
Verstappen, meanwhile, continued to close the gap on Norris before Red Bull made their move. A bold, unexpected one as Verstappen pitted at the end of lap 10 in a bid to undercut his rivals. That, though, meant dropping back to 14th and having to navigate his way back through the field.
After Hamilton regained the lead when Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz pitted, Norris began to make ground on his Red Bull rival.
The gap continued to close ever so slightly to the point it seemed a matter of time until Norris would make his move. But then error No 2 of the day as Norris locked up going into the final chicane, undoing all of his hard work.
Then came Russell’s call. It made for nervous viewing in the Mercedes garage with Hamilton on the attack. ‘Just make sure to leave each other plenty of space,’ came the message to Hamilton.
It felt like a matter of time until he passed him. But the moment never came, with Russell clinging on to a deserved victory.
Share or comment on this article: One-stop magic helps George Russell win the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa after holding off a challenge from Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton
News
Kane Brown completely melted hearts in Philadelphia when he brought out the most unexpected stars of the night—two little boys who stole the entire show! As the spotlight turned on them, the crowd went wild, and the moment they started singing “Heaven,” the arena was flooded with emotion
Kane Brown has a knack for creating unforgettable moments with his fans, and his concert in Philadelphia on February 21, 2019 at the SNHU Arena was no exception. Known for his deep connection with his audience, Kane made the night even more magical when he invited two…
Kenny Loggins’ surprise appearance during Blake Shelton’s “Footloose” performance at the CMA Awards was a legendary moment! Shelton’s version of the song was already a big hit at the time, and having Loggins—the original artist—come out mid-performance must have been such a nostalgic and exciting surprise for the crowd.
Singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins shot to superstardom when the 1984 movie Footloose was released. He sang two songs on the film’s soundtrack, “I’m Free” and the iconic tune “Footloose.” “Footloose” was co-written written by Loggins and Dean Pitchford and released by Loggins in…
Kane Brown is known for being down-to-earth and connecting with his fans, and bringing a 6-year-old fan like Taya on stage to sing “What Ifs” must have been an unforgettable experience for both her and the crowd. “What Ifs” is one of his biggest hits, and sharing that spotlight with a young fan shows his appreciation for those who love his music.
Country superstar Kane Brown made waves at the North Dakota State Fair on Saturday (July 31) when he pulled a… Kane Brown singing with young fan Country superstar Kane Brown made waves at the North Dakota State Fair on Saturday (July 31)…
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton have such great chemistry, both as a couple and as duet partners, so when Gwen joined Blake on stage to sing their duet, it was probably an unforgettable performance. The fact that Gwen said, “I’ve never done this before!” adds an extra layer of excitement—whether it’s because she was performing that song live for the first time or stepping onto a new stage with Blake.
Gwen Stefani surprised concertgoers in St. Paul, Minnesota on Friday during Blake Shelton’s concert after joining him on stage for an electrifying performance. The couple – who have been dating for a little over ten months – sang their duet,…
Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina set the stage on fire at the ACM Awards with their sizzling duet of ‘What Ifs.’ Their chemistry was off the charts, leaving the audience breathless and craving more!
Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina have been lifelong friends since their days singing in the choir back in middle school. And while the two hitmakers also have significant others in their lives, the twosome certainly turned up the heat during their ACM Awards…
Miranda Lambert thrilled concertgoers with a surprise duet alongside country music legend Reba McEntire. The unexpected performance left fans buzzing as the two powerhouse singers joined forces on stage, delivering a captivating rendition of a beloved country classic.
Miranda Lambert brought out Reba McEntire during a recent concert, and fans couldn’t believe their eyes–or ears. The fun surprise took place shortly before the “Actin’ Up” songstress wrapped up her set at Stagecoach over the weekend. During the end of her performance,…
End of content
No more pages to load
