George Russell è stato eliminato al primo giro del Gran Premio del Belgio 2026 a Spa-Francorchamps dopo un contatto con Lewis Hamilton alla curva La Source. Il pilota Mercedes, partito in prima fila, è finito nella ghiaia dopo essere stato girato dall'ex compagno di squadra, ora alla Ferrari, ponendo fine immediatamente alla sua gara.
"Non abbastanza buono," ha commentato Russell a fine gara, visibilmente frustrato. "Lavoriamo tutto il weekend per essere competitivi e poi finisce così alla prima curva." Il britannico ha sottolineato i problemi di affidabilità che hanno segnato la sua stagione, con il terzo ritiro nelle ultime cinque gare.
Hamilton, dal canto suo, ha definito l'accaduto "un incidente di gara": "È stato un episodio sfortunato. George era all'interno, io all'esterno, e quando lo spazio si è chiuso il contatto è stato inevitabile." I commissari hanno esaminato l'episodio senza prendere provvedimenti, ritenendolo un normale episodio di gara.
Fonti
- [Formula 1](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/not-good-enough-russell-reflects-on-belgian-gp-after-first-lap-retirement.eINim0Y495XbHqOWvE6Gw)
- [Formula 1](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/it-was-a-racing-incident-hamilton-offers-opinion-on-russell-clash-in-belgian-grand-prix.1HzGN8jH6iIGR9hDNe99cQ)
George Russell out on lap one of Belgian GP after Hamilton clash: "Not good enough"
George Russell's Belgian Grand Prix ended before it had properly begun, the Mercedes driver eliminated on the opening lap at La Source after contact with former team-mate Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari. Russell, who had qualified on the front row and looked genuinely competitive for a podium finish, was turned around and beached in the gravel trap, his afternoon over in a matter of seconds.
"Not good enough," Russell said afterwards, his frustration evident. "We put in the work all weekend to be in this position — the car was fast, the setup was right — and it's gone at the first corner before we'd even got going." The Briton pointed to a recurring pattern of misfortune, noting this was his third DNF in the last five races and a major blow to his championship aspirations. Mercedes acknowledged their share of responsibility for a communication error in the moments before the start that contributed to the confusion.
Hamilton described the incident as a racing one. "It was a tight situation — George on the inside, me on the outside — and when the gap closed contact was inevitable," he said. "I'm sorry for him because nobody wants to see a team-mate eliminated like that, but these things happen in racing." The stewards reviewed onboard footage, telemetry, and multiple camera angles before taking no further action, classifying it as a first-lap racing incident where no single driver bore full responsibility.
The retirement was especially costly for Russell, who had shown strong pace throughout the weekend and was seen as a genuine podium contender before the start lights went out. Mercedes at least had the consolation of Kimi Antonelli's victory — the Italian's second in a row — to take something positive from a difficult afternoon.
Sources
- [Formula 1](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/not-good-enough-russell-reflects-on-belgian-gp-after-first-lap-retirement.eINim0Y495XbHqOWvE6Gw)
- [Formula 1](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/it-was-a-racing-incident-hamilton-offers-opinion-on-russell-clash-in-belgian-grand-prix.1HzGN8jH6iIGR9hDNe99cQ)
