Hamilton benefits from Russell's disqualification at the Belgian Grand Prix

George Russell was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix due to an underweight vehicle, resulting in his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton emerging as the winner of the last Formula 1 race before the summer break. According to the stewards' report, Mercedes admitted it was a genuine team error with no mitigating circumstances. This marks the first disqualification in Formula 1 since the United States Grand Prix in 2023, where Charles Leclerc and Hamilton were disqualified. FIA Formula 1 Technical Delegate Jo Bauer stated that Russell's vehicle met the minimum weight of 798 kg during the initial weighing. However, after draining 2.8 liters of fuel, the car weighed only 796.5 kg, missing 1.5 kg, which represents a significant difference. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff did not comment further on the situation to the press, as the stewards had not yet made a decision. When asked about possible damages to the vehicle that might have affected the weight, Wolff admitted there was no excuse if a rule violation was found. However, he emphasized the positive aspects for Russell and the team overall.