George Russell has won the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix after an impressive one-stop race. His teammate Lewis Hamilton finished P2 for their first 1-2 since 2022, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished P3.
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George Russell has won the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix after an impressive one-stop race. His teammate Lewis Hamilton finished P2 for their first 1-2 since 2022, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished P3.
2024 Belgian Grand Prix
17 drivers began on the medium compound. Sainz and Zhou started on the hard tyre while Ricciardo gambled on the softs.
Lap 1-10
Lights went out and away we went racing. Leclerc remained in the lead but an incredible start from Hamilton saw him climb up to P2 with Perez P3. Norris went backwards from P4 to P7.
By Lap 2, Verstappen had made three places from P11 to P8. He was on the back of Norris. However, it was Hamilton who looked the most threatening with a pace even Mercedes could not have predicted. The Briton was all over the back of Leclerc who was holding the pack up. Only 12 seconds split the Monegasque and Saregeant in P20.
With the helping of DRS, Hamilton took the lead of the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix down the Kemmel straight on Lap 3. He was already 0.9s-one-second ahead of Leclerc.
Zhou reported a complete loss of power on Lap 4. He safely crawled back to the pits where he retired from the race.
Lap 6 saw Hamilton lead by 1.1s with broken DRS. By Lap 7 this had extended to 1.8s. Pérez was struggling, 1.6s behind Leclerc. This is not the performance the Mexican needs to retain his seat at Red Bull after the Summer shutdown.
A DRS train formed, which was hurting Norris and Verstappen in P7 and P8. They were three seconds ahead of Alonso in ninth.
It seemed that Sainz had made the right choice by starting on the hard compound. On Lap 8, Haas opted to pit Hülkenberg. He fell to P19 but did switch from the medium compound to the hards.
While Hamilton led Leclerc by two seconds, Ricciardo and both Williams drivers pitted on Lap 9.
Lap 11-20
The top eight, which consisted of Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren were equal. Nine seconds split them.
Russell and Verstappen were the first of the top eight to pit. They were trying to undercut, however, the Briton re-joined P12 while the Dutchman joined P14.
Several drivers reacted to this. Hamilton. Perez, and Piastri all followed on Lap 12. Leclerc, Sainz, and Norris continued and so Charles Leclerc led the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix. Hamilton re-joined P6, Pérez P8, and Piastri P9 after overtaking Russell.
Another pit came for Leclerc this time. Sainz and Norris continued, which meant Carlos Sainz now led the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix. While they were yet to pit, it was thought that they would have incredible pace in the closing stages.
Hamilton began to catch up to Norris and Sainz on Lap 15. McLaren reacted to this with what felt like a late pit stop on Lap 16. He was fitted with the hard compound but re-joined P8. He was 13 seconds behind Hamilton and six behind Verstappen.
Sainz went off and into the gravel on the exit of Turn 15 on Lap 17. It cost him three seconds to Hamilton who was flying. Elsewhere, Norris was flying too. He had already reduced his deficit to Verstappen by over three seconds.
Pérez was beginning to struggle as Russell was all over him for P5. He was not helping Verstappen in P7 as the Briton was receiving DRS every lap.
Lap 21-30
Sainz pitted on Lap 21. He ditched the hard compound for the mediums. Meanwhile, Pérez was overtaken by ease by Russell along the Kemmel straight.
He then pitted on Lap 22 for a set of hard tyres. He re-joined P8. More bad news for Red Bull arrived on Lap 23 when Norris caught Verstappen with DRS. The Briton sought a move for P5 but was not close enough yet. It did not look like it would be long, however.
Lewis Hamilton led the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix once again and had a 2.5s advantage. Gaps were beginning to emerge throughout the frontrunners. Hamilton led Leclerc once again by 2.4s while Piastri was a further 2.4s behind Leclerc.
The final pit stops were starting as Leclerc moved first. Hamilton soon followed with a 2.4s stop. He re-joined comfortably ahead of Leclerc in P6 on new hard tyres.
Verstappen and Sainz then followed on Lap 29. They re-joined P7 and P8. It was not looking good for the former’s team. As predicted, Norris pitted for the final time on Lap 30. He rejoined behind Verstappen but ahead of Sainz in P7. He was another driver who were not having the race they anticipated going into the weekend.
George Russell then led the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix. However, the Mercedes driver had not pitted for a second time. The question was whether or not his tyres would last until the final lap.
Lap 31-40
An error from Piastri in the pit lane cost him vital time. He missed his marks and a jackman had to stop his car. It ended up a 4.4s pit stop for the Australian, who re-joined ahead of Verstappen and Norris.
Russell perhaps took a huge risk as he decided to not pit again. As he was leading the race, he decided to complete the one-stop. However, Hamilton was six seconds behind on fresher tyres.
With ten laps to go, Piastri was within one-second of Leclerc. This would be the fight for the final spot on the podium if Russell could look after his tyres until the end.
Lap 36 saw Piastri overtake Leclerc by moving around the outside of the Ferrari driver at Les Combes. He then charged after Hamilton in P2.
Hamilton was charging on his own. He was 2.8s behind Russell with the gap closing on Lap 37.
While Mercedes were maximising on their superb day, Red Bull’s disappointment continued. Pérez was overtaken by Sainz for P7 on Lap 39 in what could very much could be his final appearance for the Austrian team.
Hamilton was soon right behind Russell with four laps remaining. Mercedes chose to let their drivers fight it out for their 1-2 finish.
Final Four Laps
Hamilton got close along the Kemmel Straight on Lap 42 but it was not close enough. Piastri was 1.2s faster than both of the British drivers, but Mercedes were confident in their pace.
Russell and Hamilton both went wide at the first corner on Lap 43. Piastri was almost within DRS range. However, it was not enough.
George Russell has won the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix after an impressive one-stop race. Teammate Lewis Hamilton finished P2 while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished P3.
What a result for @MercedesAMGF1 🥇🥈#F1 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/SR1SnPdF3U
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2024
This is the first 1-2 for Mercedes since Brazil 2022.
RACE CLASSIFICATION (LAP 44/44)
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2024
Look at the gap between the top three! 😅#F1 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/7DHzJf76xe
Image Credit: Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
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