F1 exists for Sundays like this. Russell conquered Spa-Francorchamps in a memorable race that anybody might have gained, as a result of there have been 4 groups and 6 drivers lower than ten seconds behind the chief, and since Hamilton and Piastri crossed the checkered flag on the similar second because the Englishman. It was a dogfight between Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Crimson Bull, which ended with the primary ones having an optimum double technique: Russell with one cease, Hamilton with two, each locked in a battle till the final lap. However F1 is just too advanced a sport to sum all of it up in 44 laps of pleasure: the Mercedes ’63’ didn’t cross the FIA checks as a result of it didn’t attain the minimal weight (it was 1.5 kilos underneath) so it was disqualified at 18:54 hours. Hamilton inherits the victory forward of Piastri (2nd), Leclerc climbs onto the rostrum (third) and Sainz (sixth) or Alonso (eighth) achieve a place in comparison with what occurred on the observe.
The race was, in any case, a sublimation for Mercedes when the battle for victory tightened. Russell made good use of the one-stop technique, improvised as a result of unexpectedly low degradation of the Pirellis, simply as Hamilton had an opportunity of all the pieces till the ultimate rush and was, in actual fact, the one who appeared the digital winner for 2 thirds of the Belgian GP. In the long run, in actual fact, he gained: Mercedes admitted the error within the weighing (796.5 kilos as an alternative of 798.0; with out gas) and isn’t interesting the penalty. It is going to be their one hundred and fifth victory in F1, a lot much less suffered and mourned than the 104th, three weeks in the past at Silverstone. However it’s nonetheless legitimate for statistics.
Norris error at the beginning
The beginning was essential: Leclerc defended pole, Hamilton ate up Perez earlier than reaching the primary braking level and eradicated Crimson Bull. Behind, Norris drove up to now outdoors that he stepped on the gravel and gave away three positions earlier than going through the very lengthy climb to Eau Rouge. He appears just like the clumsy villain within the 2024 World Championship film. Sainz was the one one on laborious tyres and the gamble did not go incorrect when he not solely did not lose positions, however gained them. Verstappen made progress, however he did not sweep all the pieces in his path like within the two earlier visits to Belgium, when he at all times takes benefit to serve the engine change penalty. Hamilton overtook Leclerc on the Kemmel straight as soon as he was capable of open the DRS (lap 3) and the Ferrari started to see victory from afar. The primary stops did not change something, besides that Sainz stayed out attempting to stretch the laborious tyre till the one-stop factor began to make sense.
The second stint was a tense one, with Verstappen already forward of Norris after an undercut that McLaren didn’t defend. Leclerc took the initiative with a poor second cease (3.4 seconds) that didn’t frighten Mercedes. Hamilton coated the hole with loads of room. Piastri delayed his personal by a handful of laps looking for that tyre benefit within the last moments of the race. On this context, Ferrari eradicated Sainz, who was forward of Hamilton, from the equation as a result of after solely seven laps on the medium, he was ordered to cease once more. Maybe this manner he didn’t trouble Lewis and Leclerc. There is no such thing as a logical rationalization.
Mercedes was courageous with the one-stop technique. Russell stayed out (he had stopped even earlier than Hamilton) with a reasonably respectable tempo and residing as much as one of many unsung reputations of Spa: it’s a temple of motorsport however it isn’t straightforward to overhaul. So Hamilton pushed and pushed, he even opened the DRS on a few events, however he didn’t need to danger an imperial Mercedes double. Piastri was not a menace both, additionally with DRS on the final lap, however distant. The Australian misplaced the victory when he nearly ran over a mechanic in his second pit cease, the cease was lengthy. And Hamilton discovered it a few hours after the checkered flag that Russell noticed first (it was his greatest victory, a pity). Verstappen (4th) beat Norris (fifth) of their specific duel and Sainz lastly completed sixth forward of Perez. It isn’t sufficient.
Alonso makes good use of his one-stop technique
Alonso returned to the factors with an eighth place (ninth within the race) with an improvised one-stop (and 30 laps on his laborious tyres) to beat Ocon (with a lot greater high velocity), Albon and Gasly. Aston Martin got here out on high on a considerably extra beneficial circuit, and Fernando didn’t see from so distant all the pieces that was taking place forward, at the least throughout the first stint. Whether or not there’s hope or not shall be identified over the following few races. For now, everyone seems to be off to a well-deserved vacation.
