George Russell described his Belgian Grand Prix weekend as “not good enough” after retiring on the opening lap due to a collision with Lewis Hamilton. Starting from third on the grid, Russell’s race was cut short following contact with Hamilton at Les Combes, which forced him off into the gravel and out of the race.
Throughout the weekend, Russell had been struggling with a straight-line speed deficit compared to his teammate and championship leader, Kimi Antonelli. On the first lap, he was overtaken by Charles Leclerc and Hamilton along the Kemmel Straight before attempting an outside pass on Hamilton into the Les Combes corner. The resulting contact ended his race prematurely, while Hamilton received a five-second penalty for the incident.
Russell acknowledged that he was about 30-40% down on battery after Turn 1, which contributed to him being overtaken by three cars early on. Despite the collision, he did not place blame on Hamilton, describing the incident as “probably a racing incident.” He also noted that under normal circumstances, he would have been battling Antonelli and Max Verstappen ahead, rather than Hamilton.
Russell expressed frustration with Mercedes’ performance, saying it was “not good enough on all regards” and describing the season as a series of setbacks with “one thing after another.” Currently 25 points behind Antonelli in the championship, he emphasized the need to reset and try again, as he has done multiple times during the season.
The incident highlighted the challenges Mercedes faced at the Belgian Grand Prix, particularly in terms of battery performance and straight-line speed. Russell’s reflections underline the difficulties encountered by the team and driver in trying to keep pace with their closest rivals.
While the collision with Hamilton brought an early end to Russell’s race, his comments suggest a focus on addressing the broader performance issues affecting his weekend. The penalty handed to Hamilton confirms the stewards’ view of the incident, but Russell’s acceptance of it as a racing incident points to a pragmatic approach amid a tough race.
Russell’s assessment of the weekend provides insight into the competitive pressures within the championship and the fine margins that can influence race outcomes. His intention to move forward and continue competing reflects the resilience required in the demanding environment of Formula 1®.