BREAKING: Mercedes Star on Brutal Disqualification as Lewis Hamilton Title Chances Con… See details 👇

Mercedes Star on Brutal Disqualification as Lewis Hamilton Title Chances Confirmed

 

17 August 2026 — F1 NEWS

 

George Russell has been forced to relive one of the most painful moments of his Formula 1 career, as the Mercedes star looked back on the brutal disqualification that stripped him of a sensational Belgian Grand Prix victory.

 

The incident happened at Spa-Francorchamps in 2024, when Russell produced a brilliant one-stop strategy to cross the finish line first. However, post-race scrutineering discovered that his Mercedes was 1.5kg under the minimum weight limit. The FIA therefore disqualified him, handing the victory to his teammate at the time, Lewis Hamilton.

 

More than two years later, the memory remains a difficult one for Russell. His victory had appeared to be one of the finest strategic performances of his career, only for the result to disappear after the chequered flag.

 

Mercedes subsequently accepted responsibility, with the team acknowledging that there were no excuses for the technical error. The weight deficit was linked to a combination of greater-than-expected car weight loss and Russell himself losing more weight than anticipated during the race.

 

Ironically, the disappointment for Russell became a major boost for Hamilton. The Ferrari driver was promoted to first place and inherited what became his 105th career Grand Prix victory.

 

But the bigger story in 2026 is now Hamilton’s championship fight.

 

After 11 rounds, Hamilton sits second in the drivers’ championship, 50 points behind Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli. George Russell is also firmly involved, sitting just nine points behind Hamilton.

 

That means Hamilton’s eighth world championship is still very much alive, despite the sizeable gap to Antonelli.

 

The Ferrari star has shown significant improvement during the 2026 campaign, and Ferrari have continued pushing development in an attempt to keep him in contention. Team principal Fred Vasseur has identified areas where the team must improve if Hamilton is to remain in the championship fight.

 

Ferrari are also preparing an all-new chassis for Hamilton ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, underlining the team’s determination to challenge Mercedes during the second half of the season.

 

The championship situation therefore remains dangerous for Mercedes. Antonelli currently has the advantage, but Hamilton’s experience, Ferrari’s development programme and the number of races still remaining mean the fight is far from over.

 

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort will mark the return of Formula 1 after the summer break, with the next phase of the championship set to begin on August 21–23.

 

The reality: Russell’s brutal disqualification is now a painful chapter from Mercedes’ past, but Hamilton’s title opportunity is very much alive in 2026. Fifty points is a significant gap, yet it is not an impossible one to overturn. With Ferrari bringing upgrades and Hamilton sitting second in the standings, the seven-time champion has a genuine opportunity to chase an eighth crown — but Mercedes and Antonelli remain firmly in control for now.