Sunday Debrief: Russell Finished First in a Mercedes 1-2 Ahead of the Summer Break. Are the Dark Days Over for Mercedes?

Mercedes head into the summer break with a 1-2 finish in a thrilling Belgian Grand Prix. George Russell managing his tyres to make it a one stop race in his pursuit to victory. Hamilton with great pace throughout the race didn’t have enough to snatch the win, but enough to make it a 1-2 for the Brackley team, while Piastri closed in behind for the final step.

 

Verstappen was the fastest in qualifying as he secured pole but was dropped down to P11 after his 10-place grid penalty after taking a new power unit. Leclerc next in line, inherited pole position, with Perez in his best qualifying session since China, qualifying in P3 but being promoted to the front row after his teammate’s penalty. Perez making into Q3 with pure luck as he just gets in with a gap of 3 thousand of a second between himself and Albon. Albon moving up into P10 for the race after Verstappen’s penalty.

 

Going into qualifying, Mercedes reverted back to the old floor, removing all new upgrades brought up in the run up to the Belgian Grand Prix, both drivers feeling more confident with the old set up at this race weekend. The gamble paid off with Hamilton qualifying in P4 and Russell in P7. Both drivers moving up to P3 and 6 respectively, after Verstappen’s 10 place grid penalty.

 

Tsunoda was the other driver to take a penalty going into the race. Tsunoda staring the race from the back of the grid after taking a new engine.

 

Going into turn 1 on the opening lap, Hamilton and Perez squabbled for places, Perez holding un for a few corners but was surpassed by Hamilton he moved up into P2, before hunting down Leclerc. Hamilton caught up with the back of the Ferrari of Leclerc on lap 3 to move up into the lead of the race.

 

Towards the back of the grid on lap 3, Zhou slowed on the track, reporting a loss of power in the car. Zhou was able to keep the Sauber  going for a few laps, before retiring out of the race on lap 5.

 

Verstappen and Norris battled one another throughout the race. Verstappen made his first pit stop at the end of lap 10, attempting an undercut on Norris, re-joining the track in P7. Norris running in P2, pitted on lap 15 to come out behind Verstappen, the undercut working for Red Bull, McLaren more concerned with undercutting their former driver, Carlos Sainz. Sainz, who was leading the race began to lose grip under braking, before being called to pit at the end of lap 20, coming out in P8 behind the McLaren.

Perez, who started the race from his best position since round 4 of the season at China, had his teammate putting the pressure on him from behind on lap 22. Verstappen not held up for long by his teammate, as the Mexican driver was called to pit on lap 22, allowing Verstappen to continue to pull ahead in bis battle with Norris. Perez reporting that the RB20 was slow on the straights.

 

Back in the battle between Norris and Verstappen, Norris pitted at the end of lap 29 to try and cover off Verstappen but re-joined once again ahead of Sainz and behind Verstappen.

 

 Meanwhile up front, Norris’s teammate Piastri ran up front before pitting on lap 30, re-entering the track in P4 ahead of the Norris and Verstappen battle. Piastri charging after Leclerc for the final podium place. Piastri catching up with Leclerc on lap 35, trying to make a move on the Ferrari but stayed back. Piastri took another go on lap 36, going around the outside at the chicane, the McLaren and Ferrari driver wheel to wheel up until the final second, until Piastri pushed himself up to P3.

 

Russell and Hamilton on different strategies, both with a shot of victory in Belgian. Hamilton on a 2-stop strategy, while Russell ran on a one stop. Hamilton led a majority of the race but going into the final 10 laps it was his teammate on older tyres who held the lead. Hamilton behind his teammate began to hunt down Russell, Mercedes happy for their drivers to race each other as long as they kept a safe space. With 4 laps to go, Hamilton closed the gap from 6 seconds to under one second. Hamilton getting close to Russell and staying within DRS over the 4 laps but wasn’t able to make an impression.

 

With one final shot, a lock up from Hamilton going into turn 1 costed Hamilton dearly, the 7-time world champion missing out on a win by 0.5 seconds. Russell with better traction held off his teammate to take a third career win on 34 lap old tyres. Piastri followed Hamilton to the podium in P3, Piastri bringing himself into DRS range on the final lap but ran out of time to pass the British driver.

Russell claimed a third race win in Formula One, a well-deserved win in a brilliant drive for the win. Hamilton finished in P2 but also claimed the Driver of the Day from the fans. Mercedes taking their second 1-2 finish in 4 years, the 60th for the team, their last 1-2 finish coming at Saõ Paulo in 2022, where Russell claimed his first win. Mercedes making it a habit over the last 6 races to finish on the podium, with their drivers winning in 3 of the 6. Could this be the start of Mercedes turn around in the second half of the 2024 season?

Meanwhile at Red Bull, questions continue to circulate over Perez's future at Red Bull as his series of underwhelming results continues to reign. Perez starting from P2 but finishing in P8. Perez pitting at the end of lap 43 for softs to take the fastest lap of the race.