Mercedes F1 to investigate George Russell Belgian GP disqualification

Mercedes’ Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin has confirmed the team don’t understand why George Russell’s car was underweight following his disqualification at the Belgian Grand Prix. 

Feature image credit: Mercedes F1

The Mercedes Formula 1 team have branded Russell’s disqualification from the Belgian GP as a ‘mistake’ and will take the hit ‘on the chin’ as they head into the annual summer break. 

After the chequered flag fell, and the podium celebrations concluded, it was identified their #63 Mercedes W15 was underweight by 1.5kg which breaches the 2024 Technical Regulations, under Article 4.1. 

Whilst the team confirmed they aren’t ‘making any excuses’ for the disqualification, the team remain unsure of how Russell’s car came under the minimum weight.

They have confirmed they will investigate it fully but they expect Russell’s one-stop strategy was a ‘contributing factor’ to his disqualification.

“It’s really tough for George to have been disqualified from the win after such an impressive drive,” Shovlin commented. “He did a brilliant job to hang onto the tyres and defend to the finish. 

“We don’t yet understand why the car was underweight following the race but will investigate thoroughly to find the explanation. We expect that the loss of rubber from the one stop was a contributing factor, and we’ll work to understand how it happened.

“We won’t be making any excuses though. It is clearly not good enough and we need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Despite Russell’s misfortunes, the team did not leave empty-handed as their seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton inherited the race win – increasing his overall total to 105 career wins. 

Shovlin has described the disqualification as ‘disappointing’ not to leave Belgium with a 1-2 finish after a strong recovery weekend. However, the team are set to learn from this mistake when they identify the reason behind Russell’s DSQ and bounce back in Zandvoort, on August 23. 

“It was a relief to have Lewis in second to inherit the victory,” Shovlin said. “He also drove a strong race and was the fastest two-stopping car out there today. We can be pleased with the car pace but overall, it’s disappointing not to walk away with the 1-2. 

“That is particularly true after such a good recovery from one of our most difficult Fridays, and following a race that was so well managed by the team.

“We’ll learn from this and be back strong in Zandvoort after the summer break.”

Read more Formula 1 here:

• George Russell disqualified from Belgian GP for underweight car
• Russell at risk of punishment for technical infringement after Belgian GP
• Russell controls his way to Belgian GP F1 victory
• Tyre Strategies: two-stop remains preferrable for F1 Belgian GP
• Zhou given 3-place grid penalty for impeding Verstappen in Belgian GP qualifying

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.