#‘I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a weekend like this’ – Russell ‘glad’ to put Belgian GP behind him

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I dont think Ive ever experienced a weekend like this Russell glad to put Belgian GP behind him

Lewis Hamilton may have offered a positive outlook of his and Mercedes' efforts in Belgium, where the seven-time world champion finished fourth – but his team mate George Russell was happy to see the back of the weekend after crossing the line in sixth. Hamilton qualified fourth, but moved up a spot after Max Verstappen took a five-place grid drop for the race. And after surviving a close three-wide moment with Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri at Turn 1 on the opening lap, he settled into third. READ MORE: Verstappen charges to Belgian GP win as Red Bull bag 1-2 finish Verstappen then made his way past, leaving Hamilton to battle Charles Leclerc for the final podium position. However, the Mercedes driver could not quite get close enough, with the team opting to pit him at the end of the race to take the fastest lap as the seven-time champion accepted fourth place. Asked if he was satisfied with his Sunday at Spa, Hamilton replied: “Yeah. Started third but went backwards one place, but we expected Max to come flying by at some stage. [Red Bull] were eight-tenths to a second faster than everybody today, per lap, so not really in the same race. "We got some good points; we got fastest lap at the end which is great. And lots of consistent points finishes for us as a team. We’ve made big, big strides as a team, we've just got to keep working away.” Hamilton finished fourth in Belgium after being unable to reel in Leclerc in P3 Hamilton was also asked to describe the mood at Mercedes heading into the summer break, with the eight-time world champions currently second in the championship, but without a race win since the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. He said: “I think everyone is relieved they are going to get a break soon. It’s hard to assess – everyone is just head down, trying to work and trying to improve. Everyone is just pumped, just driven.” READ MORE: ‘It’s been a positive weekend’ – Leclerc pleased with podium in Belgium but says Ferrari still have 'a lot of work to do' Russell, on the other hand, admitted the summer break had come at a good time for him after struggling for much of the weekend. However, he believed that had it not been for some misfortune on the opening lap, he would have been fifth instead of sixth. Assessing his race, Russell said: “It was alright. I was very unfortunate at the beginning. I made a really strong start, and then I saw Oscar [Piastri going slowly]. I thought it was a puncture, but didn’t realise he’d lost his steering. Russell was glad to see the back of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend after finishing sixth “I decided to go to the left, he was just drifting to the left, I got boxed in, and I lost four positions. That probably cost me one position at the end of the race. I should’ve been ahead of Fernando [Alonso]. [But I’m] glad this weekend is over. “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a weekend like this in my whole career. One, in terms of the weather changing so often. Like [Saturday], I don’t think I’ve lived a day of my life like [Saturday], it was just unbelievable.” READ MORE: Verstappen opens up on radio exchange with engineer in Belgian GP after dominant recovery drive to 8th straight win He concluded: “And from my own personal side, just a really challenging weekend. The [summer] break is coming at a good point. As a team happy with some good points on the board, opening that gap to P3 in the team’s championship. But were still eyes on Red Bull and clearly, we have a lot of work to do.” This feature is currently not available because you need to provide consent to functional cookies. Please update your cookie preferences Race Highlights: 2023 Belgian Grand Prix via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

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ICYMI: Rubber ducks cat-shaped horses and traffic jams all feature in the best social media from Spa

When it rains, it pours – as the F1 drivers, teams and fans found out in Belgium at the weekend. But the weather didn’t dampen everyone’s spirits, with plenty of banter on social media amongst the teams. Here are some of the best gems you might have missed from Spa-Francorchamps… Code Name: Albono Powers Quite why Alex Albon decided he needed to turn around in a small cart on a narrow road will remain a mystery, but the Thai driver's execution of his three-point turn may well have led to a driving test fail in most countries. Logan Sargeant looked embarrassed to be associated with the travesty, which had Austin Powers written all over it. Not the best start Perhaps George Russell should have headed home when his pass didn't work at the start of a weekend he later described as "rubbish" and conceded he was glad was over. Mercedes will be glad he didn't, as he picked up valuable points for the team. At least he didn't manage to mix up the conditions and mistake the rain for anything else in Spa... READ MORE: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a weekend like this’ – Russell ‘glad’ to put Belgian GP behind him Good weather for... Speaking of the rain, there was lots of it. It might have been raining cats and dogs, but in the pit lane it was all about the humble rubber duck. Valtteri Bottas has already told the world that ducks are suited to rainy days far more than F1 cars, and his team evidently agreed. As for Mercedes, Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin could only describe conditions as 10/10. It was difficult to argue. A bunch of racers? Apparently, all that is missing at Haas – bar a points paying finish – is Guenther Steiner behind the wheel. Would the likeable Team Principal have made all the difference on Sunday? You can only imagine the radio messages – they would have made Max Verstappen's exchanges look tame. International Friendship Day Anytime Lando Norris, George Russell and Alex Albon get together, chaos normally ensues. They were on their best behaviour at the weekend, despite Albon and Norris having a battle out on the racetrack. But if you want wholesome content, this is where it was at in Spa for International Friendship Day. Childhood dreams Okay, it might have been the Sprint rather than a full Grand Prix, but who didn't like the heartwarming moment Oscar Piastri managed his first top three finish since joining the big, bad world of F1? His Dad was here to see it too, and it's clearly been a long time coming for a kid who grew up dreaming of F1. Not in this garage You have to be very brave to wear a rival's branding in the Red Bull garage, as this woman found out. Christian Horner wasn't allowing anyone to advertise the Prancing Horse on his turf, but Ferrari found a way to retaliate later on... Traffic in Sector 1 There's nothing worse than minding your own business and getting honked whilst in traffic – and it's even worse when the culprit is your team mate. Carlos Sainz was clearly impatient to get going, but unfortunately he also picked up traffic when it came to Turn 1 in the Grand Prix proper... Giddy up Horsey This one played out on social media across the weekend, as a fan desperately tried to unite Alex Albon with a hand-knitted cat called Horsey, named after his own cat – nope, us neither. The fan in question managed to get her creation to the Williams driver, who looked genuinely stoked with the new addition to his family. An unbroken streak No, no – this isn't about Red Bull's winning run. This is all about the fact the team can't keep a trophy intact, despite having had plenty of practice in handling prizes this year. This time they can't even blame Lando Norris either, contriving to break one of their trophies of their own accord whilst celebrating. Still, at least they still have some super glue on hand after the Hungarian mishap. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

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Its frustrating to go on holiday like this Wolff offers his verdict as bouncing returns for Mercedes at Spa

Toto Wolff has said that Mercedes have “no choice” but to keep their heads down and work through their current car limitations after a Belgian Grand Prix performance plagued by bouncing. Mercedes had to settle for fourth and sixth at the end of an action-packed Sprint weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, with Lewis Hamilton almost 50 seconds adrift of race-winning Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, and George Russell more than a minute back. READ MORE: 6 Winners and 5 Losers from Belgium – Who mastered the ever-changing conditions in Spa? While Mercedes remain second in the constructors’ standings with the double points finish, Wolff admitted to the Verstappen and Red Bull combination being significantly quicker, as he ponders how the Silver Arrows can make inroads. Asked about where Mercedes are in terms of understanding and feeding into next year’s car, and their position in the pecking order, Wolff said: “I think you can even take [Sergio] Perez into the equation – we are racing each other. This feature is currently not available because you need to provide consent to functional cookies. Please update your cookie preferences Race Highlights: 2023 Belgian Grand Prix “We seem to be following similar development routes, but there is one car [Verstappen] that is faster, that was one and half seconds a lap when he was pushing at the beginning of the stint, so we’ve got to get on top of it. “I’ve seen the data and spoken to the drivers. The main limiting factor [on Saturday and Sunday] was the bouncing – the car is bouncing literally on every straight. READ MORE: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a weekend like this’ – Russell ‘glad’ to put Belgian GP behind him “Even Blanchimont is a corner Lewis had to lift that is an easy flat normally and, if you are bouncing on the straight, you over-heat the tyres under braking. “That is a vicious cycle and was the main limiting factor this weekend. It’s frustrating to check out for holidays like this but [after the race] we’ll understand more based on the data.” Mercedes had to settle for P4 and P6 on race day at Spa-Francorchamps Wolff was then pushed on how the championship would be playing out if Red Bull – who have won all 12 races so far this season – were not involved in proceedings. But he took the opportunity to double down on Verstappen’s driving, commenting: “You just need to take Max out of the equation – the second Red Bull is where we are. READ MORE: Formula 2 title contender Vesti to make F1 weekend debut for Mercedes with practice run in Mexico “It would be a fantastic season and close racing, but the stopwatch never lies. There is just one guy in one car that is above everyone else and we’ve just got to catch up, there is no choice.” As the F1 paddock heads into the summer break, Mercedes sit 256 points behind leaders Red Bull in the constructors’ standings, while Hamilton and Russell hold fourth and sixth respectively in the drivers’ battle. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com