Red Bull Team Principal reasoned that Mercedes made a “mistake in their calculations” resulting in George Russell’s disqualification from the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix.
Russell executed an inspired one-stop strategy to lead team-mate Lewis Hamilton by a fraction of a second over the start/finish line at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday.
However, Mercedes’ jubilation was mitigated somewhat when post-race scrutineering found Russell’s car 1.5kg underweight and the race stewards duly stripped of the win, handing a 105th GP triumph to Hamilton.
Horner, speaking to Sky Sports F1 believed the cause for the underweight Mercedes W15 could be linked back to the one-stop strategy decision, which was a surprise call not only to Russell and his team, but the Brackley-based squad’s rivals.
“I’m sure that you’d have lost well over a kilo of rubber,” Horner reckoned with a degging hard compound set of Pirellis over a long stint. “We saw that on Friday.
“But you know, you have to carry enough fuel to do the sample, otherwise you’re using fuel as ballast.
“Really sad news for George, but obviously a mistake in their calculations.”
Despite acknowledging how disappointing the result would have been for Russell, Horner could very well be thanking his stars that a rival missed out on a big chunk of points.
With Hamilton inheriting the win in Russell’s place, the Silver Arrows have won three of the last four, a period in which Red Bull hasn’t won a single race.
Russell took to social media in response to losing his third GP victory, writing “Heartbreaking… We came in 1.5kg underweight and have been disqualified from the race.
“We left it all on the track today and I take pride in crossing the line first.”
Disqualification aside, it was an impressive run from Russell and Mercedes, deserved of plaudits and sympathy for the driver in question having a victory snatched from his grasp.
Charles Leclerc, who benefitted from Russell’s DSQ to take the final podium position was one such candidate not only to congratulate Mercedes on its efforts, but spare sympathy for its driver.
“They had done an incredible job today, and it’s not the difference of the weight; they won because they were the stronger team today,” Leclerc said (via SKy Sports F1).
“Obviously, these kinds of things, it’s difficult to do an exception, and it’s understandable that they got disqualified.
“It’s unfortunate because [Russell] had done an amazing job, as well as Mercedes.”
