Russell doubles down on Mercedes Belgian GP 'risk'

George Russell has insisted that Mercedes one-stop strategy in the Belgian Grand Prix was "a risk worth taking" despite his disqualification.

Russell was the only driver to one-stop at Spa, and won by less than half-a-second from Hamilton on the two-stopper. 

However, his W15 failed post-race scrutineering after being found to be underweight by 1.5kg, weighing just 796.5kg instead of the minimum level of 798kg. 

It meant that Russell's third career win was expunged with Hamilton promoted to the win, with Oscar Piastri second and Charles Leclerc stepping up to the podium for Ferrari. 

Mercedes' working theory is that the loss of rubber from the one-stop, the faster than expected pace due to no safety cars and the lack of a traditional in-lap to pick up rubber combined to put Russell underweight.

But the risk of a one-stop is something Russell doubled down on.

"It is heartbreaking to be disqualified from today's race. It had been an unbelievable grand prix for us to make the one-stop strategy work," Russell explained. 

"In what turned out to be my final stint, the tyres just kept getting better and better.

"I was nursing them in the early stages and as we went further, I became more and more convinced we could get to the end on them.

"It was a risk worth taking and it looked like it had paid off."

Russell praises Hamilton

Speaking of his team-mate, who took the 105th win of his career, Russell heaped praise on Hamilton on the two-stop strategy. 

"Despite the disqualification, I am of course proud to have crossed the line first. It is also good that the team was still able to take the victory with Lewis," he said.

"He drove a great race and was the fastest car out there on the two-stop strategy. 

"Whilst I'm incredibly disappointed, I know we will bounce back stronger after the summer break, starting in Zandvoort."