Russell's Tactical Win at Belgian Grand Prix Shakes Up F1 Standings

George Russell secured a strategic victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes one-two with teammate Lewis Hamilton. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the podium, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished fifth, affected by a grid penalty. The win marks Russell’s second victory of the season.

Britain's George Russell clinched victory at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, showcasing strategic brilliance in a Mercedes one-two finish alongside seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton. Russell's one-stop strategy outsmarted the competition, securing his second win of the season.

Fresh off a win in Hungary, McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished third, while Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen ended up fifth after starting 11th on the grid due to a 10-place penalty for taking on a fifth engine. Despite leading early, Hamilton could not overtake Russell and finished just 0.526 seconds behind him.

The race also saw Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who started on pole, finish fourth, and Mercedes' latest success narrows the gap to Ferrari in the constructor's championship to 56 points. The season now breaks for four weeks, with Verstappen's dominance visibly waning as he failed to win seven out of 14 races so far in 2023.

(With inputs from agencies.)