Russell’s automotive was weighed after the race and located to be on the minimal weight (798 kilograms), however after gasoline was drained from the Mercedes, it was discovered to be 1.5kg underweight.

The matter was referred to the stewards, who decided Russell’s automotive be disqualified.

“Automotive 63 was weighed on the FIA inside and outdoors scales with each scales exhibiting the identical results of 796.5kg,” a stewards’ assertion mentioned. “The calibration of each scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor.

“In the course of the listening to the crew consultant confirmed that the measurement is appropriate and that each one required procedures have been carried out accurately. The crew additionally acknowledged that there have been no mitigating circumstances and that it was a real error by the crew.

“The stewards decide that Article 4.1 of the FIA System One Technical Laws has been breached and due to this fact the usual penalty for such an infringement must be utilized.

“Rivals are reminded that they’ve the suitable to enchantment sure selections of the stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA Worldwide Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Guidelines, inside the relevant deadlines.”

Russell gained the race on a one-stop technique, that means he made a single set of tyres final 34 laps whereas others made an additional cease.

The bodily put on of the 4 tyres can account for the automotive’s total weight reduction over a protracted stint, though groups often issue that into their calculations earlier than the race.

One other issue distinctive to the Belgian Grand Prix is that the size of the Spa-Francorchamps lap means drivers don’t full a cool-down lap after the chequered lap and as a substitute flip into the pit lane exit instantly after Flip 1.

The absence of a cool-down lap means drivers can not decide up discarded rubber on their tyres, which is customary process after a race to assist exchange any misplaced weight.

“Heartbreaking. … We left all of it on the observe at present and I take delight in crossing the road first,” Russell mentioned in a submit on social media after the race. “There will probably be extra to come back.”

Talking earlier than the stewards’ determination, Mercedes crew principal Toto Wolff mentioned his crew must settle for a disqualification if it occurs.

“It’s important to take it on the chin,” he mentioned. “If the stewards determine towards ourselves, it’s what it’s, a mistake has occurred, or might have occurred, and one-two would have been an ideal end result going into the summer time break. It would not go any higher.

“The constructive, the very constructive we will take from this race is we had two vehicles that have been the benchmark on this race, with two completely different methods. Who would have mentioned that a couple of months in the past? That’s actually good to see.”

Requested if something was broken on Russell’s automotive, which could have contributed to it being underweight, Wolff added: “No, I feel it is a one-stop that … you count on lack of rubber, perhaps extra, however it’s no excuse.

“If … if the stewards deem it to be a breach of laws, then it’s what it’s, and we’ve got to be taught from that, and as a crew, given there are extra positives to take, for George, however that is a large blow for a driver when his childhood dream is profitable these races, then to be informed it is taken away. However he will win many extra.”