Toto Wolff handed George Russell two new words after beating Lewis Hamilton

After seemingly winning the Belgian Grand Prix, George Russell was the talk of the Mercedes team, though those festivities might not last long.

After the Mercedes driver’s amazing tyre gamble won him the Belgian Grand Prix—at least on the track—Toto Wolff gave George Russell a new moniker.

At Spa, Russell was the first to cross the finish line, but he might have to give up the win if it turns out his car was underweight. The FIA report states that after the fuel was removed, the British driver’s vehicle was registered as underweight in parc ferme.

In the event that the stewards determine the car to be underweight, Russell would probably be disqualified and his teammate Lewis Hamilton would win the race. Russell began the race at Spa down in sixth place and didn’t look like he was in it for the win, with the rest of the field making two stops.

The McLaren of Oscar Piastri was likewise exhibiting blistering speed closely behind the Mercedes of Hamilton, who seemed to be in the driver’s seat in the other Mercedes. Russell proved his innovative strategy effective with a fantastic 34-lap second stint, following his successful lobbying of Mercedes to make his first stop his only stop. He initially appeared to be aiming for a podium, which is still a commendable effort, as Hamilton and Piastri were predicted to pass on much newer tires.

Even though the Norfolk driver’s rubber was much older than the other’s, he maintained an impressive pace and the two did eventually close the gap in the closing laps. After the checkered flag, Russell was dubbed the “tyre whisperer” by the Mercedes team principal over the radio as his driver cried out in delight, though that happiness may not seem to last for long.

Mercedes, who were well off the pace in Friday’s practice, surprised everyone by starting first place. “He [Russell] was very good all of today but then when you look at the pace, Lewis was very good today,” Wolff expressed his happiness with both drivers to Sky Sports immediately following the race.

Therefore, I believe they both did a fantastic job. Lewis did not benefit from the strategy, and as I mentioned earlier, I would like to have two winners today.

“The call was to cover for [Charles] Leclerc and [Lando] Norris by bringing Hamilton in at the appropriate time, as otherwise we would have been undercut. There was nothing for George to lose. We kept him out because we were P5, the one-stop and the two-stop were displaying P5.