Lewis Hamilton clinched a dramatic victory at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday after his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who initially took the chequered flag, was disqualified. Russell's car was found to be underweight following the race, leading to his disqualification and handing Hamilton his second win of the season. This victory marks Hamilton's 105th career win and follows his recent triumph at Silverstone earlier this month.
The win also signifies Mercedes' third victory in the last four races, a stark contrast to their struggles over the past two years. Initially, the team celebrated what they thought was a one-two finish, but the disqualification reshuffled the final standings. McLaren's Oscar Piastri was promoted to second place, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc moved up from fourth to third, completing the revised podium.
George Russell, who started sixth on the grid, executed an impressive performance with a one-stop strategy, managing his second set of tires for 34 of the 44 laps. Despite holding off Hamilton and Piastri to what seemed like a third grand prix victory, his triumph was short-lived. A technical report revealed that Russell's car was 1.5kg below the minimum weight limit after being fully drained of fuel. Consequently, the stewards disqualified Russell, adjusting the race results.
The race began in bright conditions following heavy rain on Saturday. Charles Leclerc, who started on pole, led initially but was soon overtaken by Hamilton using the Drag Reduction System (DRS) on lap three. The race saw various strategic pit stops, with Russell opting for a one-stop strategy that briefly put him in the lead.
However, as Hamilton closed in and Piastri gained ground, the final laps saw intense competition. Despite Mercedes' internal battle, Hamilton emerged victorious. As the season heads into a summer break, Max Verstappen continues to lead the championship, with Red Bull topping the constructors' standings.
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