See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JONATHAN MCEVOY, SPORTS WRITER AND DAILY MAIL'S MOTOR RACING WRITER Published: 14:12 BST, 19 July 2026 | Updated: 14:33 BST, 19 July 2026
George Russell’s world championship hopes took a massive hit when he crashed out of the Belgian Grand Prix in a first-lap collision with Lewis Hamilton.Russell’s rear left wheel caught Hamilton’s front left at the end of Spa’s Kemmel Straight as they vied for fifth place.The Mercedes man spun around at Les Combes, the right-left combination, and ended up beached in the gravel. A safety car was deployed as Russell walked away uninjured away from the scene of his latest disappointment.Hamilton said over the radio: ‘A car crossed over in front of me.’The stewards noted the incident. Meanwhile, championship leader Kimi Antonelli was in charge of proceedings as he looked to extend his 25-point advantage over his older team-mate Russell, who started the 44-lap race from third on the grid but slipped down to sixth.Hamilton was fine to continue and was lying fifth when the safety car withdrew. Despite his protestation of innocence, Hamilton was handed a five-second penalty for causing the collision. More to follow. George Russell crashed out of the Belgian Grand Prix after colliding with Lewis Hamilton Russell was sent into the gravel after being clipped by the Ferrari in the opening lap in Spa Sunday's result serves as a major blow to Russell's championship hopes
