Mercedes’ George Russell celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Belgian Grand Prix. Picture: REUTERS, Leonhard Foeger
Britain’s George Russell was stripped of his win in the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday night after race officials discovered the Mercedes entry was underweight.
Runner up Lewis Hamilton, his teammate, was named the winner.
The race outcome was referred to stewards for review after it was found that Russell’s No.63 weighed 798.0 kilograms, which is the minimum weight required.
Officials went on to drain the fuel tank, and after doing so, the car weighed 796.5 kilograms – or 3.3 pounds – short of the requirement.
At a stewards’ hearing, Russell’s reps “acknowledged that there were no mitigating circumstances and that it was a genuine error “.
Stewards subsequently overturned the race result. Piastri was elevated to second place and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who won the pole position, finished third. Max Verstappen was fourth after starting 11th following a penalty.