Lewis Hamilton earned the Driver of the Day award at the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix despite missing out on victory to teammate George Russell who gave a tyre management clinic worthy of the seven-time champion himself.
Hamilton looked like the favourite for victory as soon as he overtook Charles Leclerc for the lead on lap three, a case that grew stronger and stronger as Max Verstappen and Lando Norris‘ charges faltered behind.
But as the rest of the frontrunners pitted for a second time, Russell stuck with his tyres that were 34 laps old by the end of the race, and inherited the lead in the closing stages.
Though he picked up Russell‘s DRS with a few circumnavigations of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps still to go, Hamilton couldn’t nail his run onto the Kemmel Straight with Oscar Piastri looming behind, and was forced to settle for second and Belgian GP Driver of the Day.
Hamilton still bleak on Mercedes’ title chances
A driver hasn’t won consecutive races since June’s Canadian and Spanish GP, a trend which always looked set to continue despite Piastri’s late charge towards the battling Mercedes.
Hamilton looked dejected at the finish despite still recording his outright second-best finish of the season as he was outfoxed rather than beaten on true pace, but the Belgian GP Driver of the Day still paid Russell his dues post-race.
More from the Singapore GP
Catch up with Total Motorsport's latest Singapore GP coverage, including Max Verstappen's victory at Marina Bay, Ferrari's costly strategy gamble, the full race classification, and the updated 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' and Constructors' Championship standings.
“First I have to say congratulations to George and to the team,” Hamilton said after the race. “We had such a disaster on Friday, the car was really nowhere.
“We made some changes, hard to see what it was going to feel like because of the wet yesterday, but the car was fantastic today. We really owe it to everyone, both here doing a solid job with pit stops and strategy, and the guys back at the factory.
“I was trying to get closer obviously, but George did a great job going long on the tyres. Every stint I had tyres left but the team brought me in, so unfortunate but it’s one of those days.”
Mercedes have reduced their deficit to Red Bull by almost a third since the 2024 Spanish GP from 179 points to 120 entering the summer break, but still sit fourth in the standings.
And speaking straight after his Belgian GP second place and Driver of the Day award, Hamilton brushed aside any hopes that the Silver Arrows could claim their first championship since 2021.
“No, that would be high hopes,” Hamilton said. “If we can continue these kind of performances we’ve had the last few races, which has been fantastic, if we can start our weekends better hopefully we can continue.
“I think the McLaren was very strong today but we were just a bit further ahead early on. We’ve just got to keep pushing.”
