Formula One title contender George Russell retired from the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday after his Mercedes spun off into the gravel on the opening lap following a collision with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
Russell started in third place on the grid but had dropped down to sixth after losing ground on the straight.
In fighting back, the Briton went side by side with his former teammate Hamilton and the pair made contact.
The Mercedes then became bogged down in the gravel, with Russell stepping out and walking away as seven-time champion Hamilton continued, with the safety car deployed and stewards investigating the incident.
Formula One leader Kimi Antonelli, who is 25 points clear of his Mercedes teammate and closest rival in the standings after nine rounds, had led away from pole position.
Russell, who has now failed to score in three races this season while Antonelli has suffered two blanks, said he felt numb.
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“When it happens so often you just get used to it,” he said.
“I made a great first corner and I was tucked up right behind (Red Bull’s Max) Verstappen but for whatever reason the battery decided not to recharge at Turn One,” he explained.
“I exited the first corner 35 per cent down because of that, and it didn’t charge, I had a boost problem, the turbo didn’t sort itself out, so no power, and I got to the top of Eau Rouge with 0 per cent battery and quite frankly it was dangerous.
“I got swamped by three cars and I shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place, and that is why I am most angry. The incident with Lewis was a racing incident. He didn’t do it on purpose. He was more to blame than I, but he didn’t do anything reckless.”
Russell said after qualifying on Saturday that there was a serious issue with his car on the straights.
“It was a new problem but it wasn’t only on George’s side. Instead, it affected all the Mercedes engines, some more, some less, and Kimi (Antonelli) too,” team principal Toto Wolff told Sky Sport Germany, suggesting a software problem was to blame.
“We have an engine that’s incredibly strong, a car that is fast but simply not stable enough and we need to get on top of that because we’re losing valuable points in the constructors’ championship.”
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Published on Jul 19, 2026