In an electrifying race at the Belgian Grand Prix, George Russell showcased his driving prowess and strategic acumen by clinching a remarkable victory. The Mercedes driver executed a bold one-stop strategy and defended against a late-race surge from his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, to secure the win at Belgian GP 2024.
A Strong Start for Hamilton
Charles Leclerc initially led the race after starting from pole position but was quickly overtaken by Hamilton within two laps. The seven-time world champion looked poised for another win at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, where he has enjoyed multiple victories in the past.
Russell’s Bold Strategy
While most drivers opted for a two-stop strategy, Russell made a risky call by pitting only once on Lap 10 of 44. This decision meant he had to carefully manage his hard tyres for the majority of the race. As the Grand Prix entered its final stages, Hamilton closed in on Russell, creating a thrilling battle for the lead.
A Nail-Biting Finish
Despite Hamilton’s relentless pursuit, he couldn’t find a way past Russell, who crossed the finish line just half a second ahead. This victory marked Russell’s third career win in Formula 1 and highlighted his exceptional skill and composure under pressure.
Belgian GP 2024: Race Results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | CAR | LAPS | TIME/RETIRED | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 44 | 1:19:57.040 | 25 |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 44 | +0.526s | 18 |
| 3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 44 | +1.173s | 15 |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 44 | +8.549s | 12 |
| 5 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 44 | +9.226s | 10 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 44 | +9.850s | 8 |
| 7 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 44 | +19.795s | 6 |
| 8 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 44 | +43.195s | 5 |
| 9 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 44 | +49.963s | 2 |
| 10 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault | 44 | +52.552s | 1 |
| 11 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB Honda RBPT | 44 | +54.926s | 0 |
| 12 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 44 | +63.011s | 0 |
| 13 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 44 | +63.651s | 0 |
| 14 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 44 | +64.365s | 0 |
| 15 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 44 | +66.631s | 0 |
| 16 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 44 | +70.638s | 0 |
| 17 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT | 44 | +76.737s | 0 |
| 18 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams Mercedes | 44 | +86.057s | 0 |
| 19 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas Ferrari | 44 | +88.833s | 0 |
| NC | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 5 | DNF | 0 |
Midfield Battles
Behind the leading Mercedes duo, Oscar Piastri secured a commendable third place for McLaren, followed by Charles Leclerc in fourth for Ferrari. Max Verstappen, who started from P11 due to an engine change penalty, managed to finish fifth. Lando Norris took sixth for McLaren, while Carlos Sainz finished seventh for Ferrari.
Sergio Perez of Red Bull ended in P8, overtaken by Sainz in the closing stages amid ongoing speculation about his future with the team. Fernando Alonso finished ninth for Aston Martin, with Esteban Ocon rounding out the top ten for Alpine.
Close Finishes and Retirements
Just outside the points, Daniel Ricciardo finished P11 for RB Honda RBPT, followed by Lance Stroll in P12 for Aston Martin and Alex Albon in P13 for Williams. Pierre Gasly ended 14th for Alpine, with Kevin Magnussen in 15th for Haas.
Kick Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas finished P16, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda in P17 for RB Honda RBPT. Williams’ Logan Sargeant and Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg brought up the rear in P18 and P19, respectively. Zhou Guanyu was the sole retirement of the race due to a hydraulic issue with his Kick Sauber
