Hamilton left with ‘mixed feelings’ over Belgian GP win as Russell reacts to ‘heartbreaking’ disqualification

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have both reacted after Mercedes’ jubilant 1-2 in Belgium soon turned to despair, when initial winner George Russell was disqualified from the race for a technical breach.

With Hamilton inheriting the win from his team mate, the seven-time world champion was understandably left with “mixed feelings” after securing his second victory in three races following his famous triumph at Silverstone.

Toto Wolff had initially said he wished there could be two winners after the race, such was Hamilton’s pace throughout a gripping Grand Prix, but it was only a highly unexpected strategy call from Russell to try and make a one-stop work that initially denied Hamilton – and while he was pleased to add another win to his tally, the circumstances preceding it rather took the gloss off.

“Mixed feelings for today’s result,” Hamilton wrote on his social media channels when the dust had settled on the events in Belgium. “Obviously happy to get the win but I feel for George and it’s disappointing for the team not to get the 1-2.

It was a win for Hamilton – but not the way he wanted to record one

“A lot of positives to take from today though. At the start of the weekend, we didn’t expect to be at the front or the pace we had, so it’s great to see just how much progress has been made and that we are in the fight. We take all these positives with us into the break and will come back a stronger team ready to keep the momentum going.”

As for Russell, most in the paddock agreed this had been his best F1 victory to date, earned completely on merit after being the only front runner brave enough to try and make the one-stop strategy work. But it wasn’t to be, with his car coming in underweight when the post-race checks were carried out.

“It is heartbreaking to be disqualified from today’s race,” Russell said. “It had been an unbelievable Grand Prix for us to make the one-stop strategy work. 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’s car was found to be under the required minimum weight limit in the wake of the Belgian Grand Prix

“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 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.”

Those positives are clear to see for Mercedes with the team securing three wins in the last four races, and now with a car that seems to be a match for McLaren and Red Bull on Sundays – even if it still lacks over one lap – and a team that now fully understand how to set-up the W15 to get the most from the package.

The new floor will be back on the car for Zandvoort too – and by then, hopefully Russell will be over his disappointment at being stripped of a third Grand Prix win.