Russell pips Hamilton in Mercedes 1-2

Russell, who pulled off a majestic one-stop strategy to his rivals’ two-stoppers, beat team-mate Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

2024 F1 Belgian Grand Prix results

2024 F1 Belgian Grand Prix report

Polesitter Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) led the charge to La Source from a fast-starting Hamilton and Sergio Perez (Red Bull). Russell challenged Piastri for fourth at Les Combes but had to straight-line the second element. McLaren’s Lando Norris made a hash of La Source, losing momentum on the exit and falling to seventh.

Verstappen, who had won the last three races here, started 11th after his 10-place grid penalty for an engine change. He passed Alex Albon’s Williams at the final chicane to take ninth at the end of the opening lap.

Norris passed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz – who started on hard tyres, unlike the majority on mediums – at Les Combes for sixth on the second lap but had to give the place back after overshooting the first element. That allowed the charging Verstappen on to his tail.

Hamilton remained in DRS range of Leclerc, and he powered past to grab the lead at Les Combes on lap three.

Perez lost DRS on Leclerc, which allowed Piastri to challenge him for third. But the higher-than-expected temperatures meant drivers were more focused on tyre management in the early stages. Fifth-placed Russell ran wide the Bruxelles hairpin on lap eight but just managed to keep Sainz behind him.

Hamilton pulled 2s clear of Leclerc by lap nine, reporting his tyres were “OK” but losing grip on the rear axle.

Russell and Verstappen were the first of the leaders to pit at one-quarter distance on lap 10, as the majority shifted to the hard tyre for the middle stint. Verstappen got seriously balked by Yuki Tsunoda’s RB on his out-lap and had to battle his way past.

Hamilton, Perez and Piastri stopped the next time around, Hamilton just managing to rejoin before Piastri drove into his pitbox, which was positioned next door. Russell undercut ahead of Piastri but the Australian was able to DRS back past him into Les Combes. Perez got tucked up behind Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, which allowed Piastri right on to his tail again.

Leclerc pitted from the lead of a Ferrari 1-2 on lap 12, and rejoined ahead of the duelling Perez (who swapped to more mediums rather than hards) and Piastri, who grabbed the position from the Mexican at Les Combes.

Sainz, on his hards, ran long as did Norris, as McLaren…