Mercedes F1 star DISREGARDS official FIA ruling ahead of Dutch GP

George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Hungary, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

Dutch Grand Prix

Mercedes star DISREGARDS official FIA ruling ahead of Dutch GP

George Russell was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Friday 23 August 2024 18:57

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Mercedes Formula 1 star George Russell has suggested ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend that he will disregard an official FIA ruling.

Russell and Mercedes head to Zandvoort on a high, following an on-track one-two last time out in Belgium, with Lewis Hamilton following his team-mate over the line.

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However, Russell's joy in Belgium was short-lived, as he was disqualified hours after the race had finished after his car was found to be underweight in post-race checks.

That led to his Mercedes team-mate Hamilton inheriting the win, his 105th career victory and second of the season.

George Russell thought he had won the Belgian GP

George Russell was disqualified at Spa, handing victory to Lewis Hamilton

Russell ignores disqualification

In truth, Russell had outclassed Hamilton around the Spa circuit, with the seven-time world champion gaining on the one-stopping Russell on much fresher tyres, before being unable to overtake his fellow Brit despite the clear tyre deficit.

Russell drove brilliantly, and was commended from all corners despite the disqualification, which appeared to be through no fault of his own.

Former F1 boss Eddie Jordan suggested that Mercedes should still pay Russell his win bonus for what would have been his third grand prix victory.

Now, Russell has said that he will always class his Spa performance as a win, suggesting a total disregard of the FIA ruling that snatched his brilliant victory away from him.

"Nobody can take that feeling away from me, from crossing the line, celebrating with my team, standing on the podium," he told media ahead of the Dutch GP.

"I think if I was in the championship fight this year it would have been a much bigger blow to us those 25 points, but this season unfortunately we’re not quite there.

"That race, I lost 25 points, but in my mind, that is still a win," he continued.

"I’ve kept my helmet and it’s going to be going on my bedside table with my other two victories. Those celebrations I had with the team in that moment, straight after, were some of the best feelings of my career. So I’ll only take positives from what happened."