George Russell Crosses the Line First, but Lewis Hamilton wins the 2024 Belgium Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his Mercedes team after winning the 2024 Formula 1 Belgium Grand Prix at the Le Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Source: Mercedes AMG)

STAVELOT, Belgium – One week following the awkward circumstances surrounding Oscar Piastri’s maiden Formula 1 victory, teams and drivers head to the famed Le Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the 2024 edition of the Belgium Grand Prix as the last race before the Summer Break as Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes hope to continue their climb back to consistent finishes on the top step of the podium.

Red Bull and Max Verstappen were the quickest on Saturday in the rainy conditions, putting his car half a second clear of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and teammate Sergio Perez. However, engine penalties gave Leclerc the pole position as Verstappen was sent 10 places down the grid to 11th. At the same time, Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu received a three-place penalty for impeding in the first round and Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda received a 60-place grid penalty for multiple new power units.

In the final moments before the 44-lap expected two-stop race, teams removed the tire covers to reveal that most teams would be starting on the Medium compound tires, while Guanyu and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz would be starting on the Hard tire. Visa Cash App RB’s Daniel Ricciardo will start on the soft compound tire.

Leclerc led Perez and Hamilton around the track for the formation lap and slotted back into position as the final moments of anticipation built up. Finally, the lights went out for the start of the Belgium Grand Prix, and the Ferrari cleared ahead while Hamilton got ahead of Perez. The McLaren of Lando Norris dipped a wheel in the gravel and fell back in the order at the start of the race.

George Russell (63) in his Mercedes F1 W15 during the 2024 Formula 1 Belgium Grand Prix at Le Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Source: Mercedes AMG)

As Leclerc was starting to extend his lead over Hamilton, Verstappen had already made good progress, slotting into eight behind Norris by the end of the second lap. Up front along the Kemmel Straight, Hamilton used DRS to his advantage to fly past Leclerc to take control of the Grand Prix.

Guanyu’s weekend was turning from bad to worse in the back of the pack as a sudden power loss forced him to try to make it to the pits. Even though he was able to get the car back going again and make it back to the pits, Kick Sauber still had to retire the car.

Close racing was occurring all around the track, highlighted by Piastri’s right on Perez’s tail for the final step on the podium. Pit stops were soon coming up for teams to get a chance to undercut those in front of them. 

Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg opened the first round of pit stops on lap eight, followed by Alex Albon’s Williams cars and Logan Sargeant’s, joined by Ricciardo. The first leaders to pit were George Russell’s Mercedes and Verstappen. Hamilton and the battling Piastri and Perez pitted shortly afterward from the lead.

Both Sainz and Norris stayed out longer, but after a quick call from the McLaren pit wall to push, Norris soon stopped to undercut the Ferrari. Sainz had a moment through Turn 14 but kept his car going and soon pitted to close off the opening pit cycle for the leaders.

Piastri had dropped Perez while Verstappen was closing down on Russell, with Norris trying to hold on behind. Perez was the first driver to make his second stop of the day switch to the hard tires while Hamilton was holding the lead over Leclerc and Piastri.

Ferrari called Leclerc down to pit lane on Lap 26 to attempt to undercut Hamilton, but after a 3.4-second stop, the chances of passing Hamilton soon faded. Mercedes responded a lap later, and the seven-time World Champion returned to the track ahead of his future teammate.

Piastri remained on track as Verstappen and Sainz returned to the pits for their second stop while the McLaren had set the fastest lap courtesy of the clean air. Norris had taken his second stop and returned between the Red Bull and the Ferrari. Piastri finally pitted but slid further through his box than normal, slowing down his stop and returning to the track in fourth.

Russell had taken the lead and had yet to take his second stop, yet at this point in the run, it seemed Mercedes was looking to one-stop Russell. 

Lewis Hamilton (44) on track in his Mercedes F1 W15 during the 2024 Formula 1 Belgium Grand Prix at Le Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Source: Mercedes AMG)

The laps started clicking down as battles were forming up front. Hamilton was chasing down Russell, and Piastri was on Leclerc’s tail. The other McLaren of Norris was also in another fight against Verstappen for fifth. Hamilton asked his pit wall if the win was still on the cards as Piastri made a pass on Leclerc to take third.

Anticipation was building up on Russell’s side of the garage at Mercedes as the end of the race inched closer and closer to the end. Hamilton and Piastri were starting to close in fast with a simple “Give each other plenty of space” given to both drivers so both teammates would not take each other out.

Sainz had gotten around Perez in the final moments as the front three closed in together, while Verstappen and Norris were right on Leclerc’s rear wing.

Although he valiantly challenged his teammate, Hamilton crossed the line 0.526s behind to finish second. However, during post-race scrutineering, Russell’s Mercedes was found to be too underweight and disqualified, meaning Lewis Hamilton picked up the victory ahead of Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen held off Norris to close out the top five, ahead of Sainz and Perez, who had taken the fastest lap on the final lap. The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso, Alpine of Esteban Ocon and Ricciardo closed out the points-paying finishers in the Top 10.

Outside of the points came the other Aston Martin of Lance Stroll, ahead of Albon, the other Alpine of Pierre Gasly, Haas of Kevin Magnussen, Kick Sauber of Valtteri Bottas, Tsunoda, Sargeant and Hulkenberg as the remaining runners at the finish as Guanyu was the lone retirement.