From a great finish to a debacle, Mercedes’ Belgian GP campaign went on a rollercoaster ride. Who would’ve thought George Russell‘s race win would be so short-lived? Although the victory ultimately went to the Silver Arrows, was it worth it? That’ll remain a debatable question. Despite a brilliant win, a single error ruined the whole experience for the British driver.

Russell’s disqualification came as a surprise, especially with a Mercedes 1-2 finish, the final result was nothing less than a nightmare. It was a matter of 1.5kg that stripped the 26-year-old of his second win of the season. As trivial as it may sound, from the game’s perspective it is an offense that led to elimination. Following the mishap, Russell has now become a member of the ‘Disqualified Race Winners’ Club. Let’s find out who are the other legendary members of this elite club.

George Russell will share the same pedestal as Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna

If you thought George Russell was the first F1 driver to experience such a disappointment, then sadly, you’re wrong. He is one of the many drivers who’ve faced such an unwanted situation. Surprisingly, racing legends fill the seats at the ‘Disqualified Race Winners’ Club. The two most prominent names are Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna.

In 1994, Michael Schumacher was disqualified post-Hungarian GP

One week before the Germany GP in 1994, F1 legend Michael Schumacher had a two-race ban from the FIA, including the Hockenheim race. Despite fans’ protest and Benetton’s efforts to delay the penalty, the team struggled with indecision. Finally, the team decided that Schumacher would compete. But Michael’s race ended after 20 laps due to an engine failure. The Red Baron did not want to let the disappointment and anger of this setback affect his Hungarian GP.

So, when he went down to the Hungaroring, he won in the same manner in which he won the Belgian GP. However, Schumacher’s joy didn’t last long. Shortly after the race, he was disqualified by the race stewards because the skidblock under his car was found to be undersized. “I made a stupid mistake,” Michael admitted. He was too fast and went on the dirt a little, saying, “I spun over a kerb and damaged my skidblock but because I did a full turn I could continue to drive.” Following Ayrton Senna’s demise in the same year, a skidblock was an essential safety measure in the cars. However Schumi’s one was undersized, hence the disqualification.

Ayrton Senna’s disqualification from the Japanese GP in 1989

Held in the Suzuka circuit, the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix is registered as one of the most controversial races in F1. The race saw the culmination of rivals-turned-teammates Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in McLaren. This historic race decided the 1989 Driver’s Championship title in Prost’s favor. But the drama began on lap 47 when both drivers collided. The incident sent them off the track.

While Alain Prost abandoned his stalled car, Senna restarted his McLaren and made a pitstop to change the front wings. He then overtook Alessandro Nannini to win the race. However, soon after the race, Senna was controversially disqualified for getting a push start from the marshals. Elimination hasn’t spared even the legends of F1, and now, Russell sits at the same table with them! So, what exactly caused George’s Belgian GP disqualification?

George Russell was disqualified from the Belgian GP, while Hamilton took the promotion

Looks like George Russell’s one pitstop strategy didn’t work out properly. He was disqualified from the Belgian GP because his Mercedes was found to be 1.5 kg underweight. The race witnessed Russell’s brilliance as he nursed those hard tires till the end, holding off Lewis Hamilton by half a second. However, the scrutineers found that the machine had 2.8 liters of fuel removed and weighed 796.5 kg, which means a lighter car gave him an added edge in the race.

Mercedes team boss, Toto Wolff accepted the decision and said: “We have to learn from that. As a team there are more positives to take, obviously for George, it’s a massive blow.” Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton was promoted from P2 to P1, thus securing his 105th race win and 201st podium. Overall, a bittersweet end for Mercedes.

Now. as the season dives into the summer break, a lot of work follows. In no time the second phase of F1 will begin. Mercedes will now take a cautious stance, as more such debacles would affect their constructor standings. Of course, the team wouldn’t like that. Moreover, they would like to continue with their recent resurgence. What do you think about George Russell’s disqualification? Share in the comments!