00:01And Formula One is underway for the Belgian Grand Prix. Great start for Lewis Hamilton, he's up to second place.
00:07He's immediately passed Sergio Perez. Charles Leclerc holds the lead.
00:10The two McLarens are side by side and he's on to the gravel in the background.
00:13Philando Norris gives an opportunity to George Russell.
00:16Side by side we go with Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez into Eau Rouge.
00:20No, Hamilton's ahead. He gets the move completed.
00:23Leclerc, then Hamilton, then Perez, then Piastri.
00:25Wide moment for Lando Norris. Cost in places.
00:28Max Verstappen off one position to tenth place as Perez fights back.
00:32Looking to reclaim second position. Charles Leclerc has the lead for the moment.
00:36Can George Russell go around the outside of the McLaren? So close.
00:39It is Leclerc, then Hamilton, then Perez, the top three.
00:42Norris losing three positions at the start, running wide into the gravel.
00:46And look, just behind him, Max Verstappen has gained a couple of places already.
00:50So there's only two cars between Norris and Verstappen at this early stage.
00:55This was the five red lights going out and immediately Perez knew he was in trouble.
00:59Yeah, and for Hamilton's position here, it's actually easy to send it in and nerf the back of the Ferrari
01:03ahead.
01:04But he measures that part well, gives Perez space on the exit as Norris runs wide,
01:08and loses all the momentum at the start of a long run.
01:13Verstappen right in behind Alex Albon. He's got a bit of downforce on that Red Bull.
01:17He's got a lot more than the Williams. He's gonna sweep all the way around the outside.
01:20Outside line to the inside line.
01:23Passing at will and making places early on because he knows he needs to go on the charge.
01:28And does Albon fancy you go back? No.
01:32And that's the side of a seven-time world champion getting closer and closer still.
01:37He's won this Grand Prix on four occasions.
01:39He's trying to take the lead from Charles Leclerc.
01:41Now with the help of DRS out of the slipstream to the race lead for Lewis Hamilton.
01:46And we have a new leader. The seven-time world champion is at the front of the field.
01:50Hamilton leads the Belgian Grand Prix.
01:53High pressure for all of the crews in the pit lane Mercedes have delivered.
01:57And in the background, it's a 2.7 stop for Verstappen in the Red Bull.
02:03Hamilton's come in from the race lead.
02:05So is Sergio Perez.
02:06Also in there in the background is Oscar Piastri, who was told to come in.
02:11So a crucial moment that releases Sainz-Norris.
02:14And the new race leader is Charles Leclerc, who finds himself back on to the racetrack.
02:19Lewis Hamilton back onto the racetrack.
02:20Now where is Russell? Where is Verstappen?
02:23And this is crucial. Russell's getting past Oscar Piastri.
02:26So going to the new rubber earlier on has worked for George Russell.
02:29Can Piastri do something about it immediately?
02:32So can he do the move that Russell did on Sonoda?
02:35Russell checks the mirrors. The McLaren is right with him.
02:37They've got the same power unit in the back of the car,
02:40but Piastri has to go on the attack here.
02:42Vital that he gets to the inside of Russell.
02:44So his Grand Prix, he needed to make the move and he did.
02:47It's only for ninth. Could be greater points later on.
02:51What an enthralling Belgian Grand Prix.
02:54We go on to the Kemmel Strait, building up to 200 miles an hour.
02:57And the orange McLaren ducks out of the slipstream, trying to move ahead against Sergio Perez.
03:03And Piastri has another pass as he moves up to sixth position.
03:07He is a contender to win this one.
03:11As Lando Norris comes in to make his pit stop, leaves into the fast lane.
03:15He goes 2.3 seconds.
03:17And Lando Norris lights up the rear tyres, goes back to work.
03:21This isn't a Stavolo for sight. It's a big snap on the entry.
03:25Hamilton radioed and said the rear tyres were going,
03:27but they certainly are on the hard shod Ferrari as well.
03:30That's more of a gravel brush than I was expecting.
03:32He will be lucky to keep it pointing in the right direction.
03:36As we climb the hill, is this the best opportunity for George Russell?
03:40The winner of the Austrian Grand Prix earlier in the year.
03:42Perez knows it, goes defensive.
03:44Nothing he can do.
03:45DRS open.
03:46Russell breezes by and takes fourth place.
03:50I think we have a one stop.
03:52So George Russell asking the team to consider extending.
03:55Lewis Hamilton coming in for a vital stop.
03:58The race leader comes into the pits.
04:00Mercedes go to work.
04:01And it's a 2.4 second stop to give himself a great chance
04:05of covering off Charles Leclerc.
04:08Norris trying to get past the first of two Red Bulls.
04:11He will hope that he overtakes in this Grand Prix.
04:13Perez is the driver.
04:14He is passing.
04:15And Norris gets up to sixth position.
04:17He will try and go chasing after Max Verstappen.
04:21Verstappen is trying to catch his teammate, Oscar Piastri.
04:26Am I targeting to beat him or not?
04:29It's close.
04:30It is close.
04:32Piastri is close to Leclerc again.
04:34Now, Piastri has had one dry run at this.
04:37Can he get by this time around?
04:39Charles Leclerc looking in the mirrors.
04:41Piastri wants that inside line.
04:42Leclerc is not going to give it to him.
04:44So going the long way round and taking the position
04:46is Oscar Piastri, who fights his way to third.
04:50And now he's going to heat the pressure on the Mercedes.
04:52Russell's tire saving.
04:54Hamilton's trying to catch him.
04:55And they're going to have to deal with the pace of Oscar Piastri.
04:59George Russell called the shots.
05:02Wanted a one stop.
05:03Everyone else came in for fresher rubber.
05:05He's trying to nurse that hard tire all the way to the end.
05:08That's the good part of the sentence.
05:10The bad part of the sentence is that Lewis Hamilton is 3.7 seconds away.
05:16Here's Sainz trying to improve from eighth to seventh.
05:19And he's done it.
05:20He gets by Sergio Perez.
05:21And that long stint has given him a points gain up against the Mexican driver.
05:25P7 for the Ferrari man.
05:28And Russell is getting good drive off La Source.
05:31Again, he opens up the cap towards seven tenths.
05:33And if Hamilton can't come past Russell,
05:36he'll at least have the DRS to defend from Piastri, who is getting closer and closer.
05:40We're on the penultimate lap.
05:42And I don't think he's going to be able to make it.
05:43He's not there.
05:44He's not there, Jolyon.
05:45How can this be possible from George Russell?
05:48And it's Russell versus Hamilton.
05:51Mercedes versus Mercedes with a McLaren close by to win the Belgian Grand Prix.
05:57Hamilton has a lock up at La Source.
05:59This is the last big, big opportunity with DRS on the horizon over the crest of Radeon.
06:06And again, Russell's done enough on the exit.
06:08He's holding Hamilton at arm's length.
06:10Russell immediately knows that he needs to break the toe.
06:13Lewis Hamilton is the driver with DRS.
06:16Oscar Piastri is in third position.
06:18How close?
06:19How brave?
06:20How late?
06:21Dare Hamilton go?
06:22He can't get there.
06:23He can't make the move.
06:25And George Russell is closing in on one of the most extraordinary and audacious strategy calls
06:30that we've seen in years in Formula One.
06:34It's going to go all the way to the checkered flag.
06:37One chicane remains.
06:39Lewis Hamilton is chasing George Russell all the way to the end of the Grand Prix.
06:44But it'll be a Grand Prix claimed inexplicably with driving brilliance from the wheel of George Russell,
06:52who takes one of the greatest drives you will ever witness to the top step of the podium.
06:58George Russell wins the Belgian Grand Prix.
07:02All the other big teams went for a two-stopper with both drivers.
07:06Mercedes heard the call.
07:09Russell demanded one.
07:10Russell takes his third career victory by half a second across the line to deny Lewis Hamilton.
07:18The podium is completed by Oscar Piastri.
07:22How did he do that?
07:25Amazing strategy.
07:26You guys are the best!
07:27Come on!
07:29It's a pretty good drive.
07:30Yeah, that was right.
07:31Yes!
07:33Woo-hoo!
07:34Tire whisperer.
07:35Tire whisperer.
07:39Tire whisperer.
07:58Tire whisperer.
07:59Here we go.
08:00But remember apunkt like he rends the most well.
08:00Got you.
08:00But over 30 tax now to start the bottom.
