Autobayng News Team
George Russell says his performance in last year’s Belgian Grand Prix was the best of his career, even though he didn’t get to keep the winner’s trophy.
The Mercedes driver pulled off an audacious one-stop strategy to lead team mate Lewis Hamilton in a one-two for Mercedes at Spa-Francorchamps last year. However following the race Russell was disqualified as his car was found to be underweight and Hamilton inherited the win.
“I still see it as a victory, to be honest,” Russell told the official Formula 1 channel ahead of the series’ return to the circuit this weekend.
“Regardless of what happened last year with the disqualification it was still probably the best race I’ve ever done in Formula 1 and I still hold that with me,” he added. “So of course I want to stand on the top step this year and keep the trophy afterwards.”
Russell won the Canadian Grand Prix last month but came fifth in Austria and slumped to a 10th place finish in damp conditions at Silverstone. More rain is forecast this weekend.
“Silverstone wasn’t our finest hour in these mixed conditions,” Russell admitted. “But [this is] a place I always love and enjoy.
“Every time I come back here and it rains, it reminds me of 2021 in the Williams and qualifying on the front row. So I’m just excited to see what’s going to happen.”
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He scored a shock second place for Williams four years ago at Spa when extremely wet conditions meant the grand prix officially consisted of a single lap behind the Safety Car.
The F1 season enters its second half this weekend but Russell remains without a contract for next year. Russell said the doubt over his future is “not really having any impact on me whatsoever.”
“I don’t lose any sleep over it,” he said, “I don’t even really think about it because as I’ve always said, the best thing you can do is drive fast on track.
“Obviously we are talking in the background, there’s nothing for me to be concerned about whatsoever but there’s nothing to announce.”
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2025 Belgian Grand Prix
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- Tsunoda’s car ‘still a couple of steps’ behind Verstappen’s at Belgian Grand Prix
- Lost Spa win last year was ‘the best race I’ve ever done in Formula 1’ – Russell
- Red Bull have “great opportunity” after hiring Mekies to replace Horner, says Lawson
