Verstappen jumps one spot after race in Belgium as winner George Russell is disqualified

A strange development in F1 saw Max Verstappen finish fourth while actually finishing fifth during the race in the Belgian Grand Prix. The race was won by George Russell in his Mercedes, but he was later disqualified because his car was too light for F1 rules, ensuring that Lewis Hamilton, who finished second, won the race.

Verstappen, who started from 11th position, drove a solid catch-up race on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit but could not advance as well as in the previous two editions when the reigning world champion drove to victory in his Red Bull from a not-ideal starting position.

Verstappen was the fastest in qualifying on Saturday at the circuit in the Belgian Ardennes but had to drop ten places due to a grid penalty after an engine change. The world champion started this race cautiously but then moved up to eighth place behind Lando Norris. Lewis Hamilton quickly took the lead from Charles Leclerc, who had started from the pole position, after the start.

Verstappen got stuck behind George Russell in the Mercedes after the first few pit stops, and the Brit seemed faster. He passed Sergio Perez and kept his margin on the reigning world champion. Verstappen had to deal with Norris behind him, who was closing in.

Hamilton maintained his lead over Leclerc after the second pit stop. Verstappen moved past Pérez into fifth place but again had Norris' McLaren right behind him. Russell chose not to make a second pit stop and to see if he could finish the race after one pit stop on the hard tires. Hamilton had closed the gap to Russell, who was the race leader with five laps to go, and Piastri was also closing in on the two.

Russell kept Hamilton and Piastri behind him in the exciting final laps. Verstappen failed to pass Leclerc. This resulted in the Red Bull driver finishing fifth for the third time in his last four races. Or so it seemed before Russell's car was disqualified hours later. This meant that Hamilton won the race, with Oscar Piastri finishing second and Charles Leclerc taking the last podium spot.

Verstappen leads the World Championship standings with 277 points after Russel's disqualification. Norris is second with 199 points.