George Russell said he is “numb to the disappointment” after yet another title-chance-denting moment saw him taken out by Lewis Hamilton on Lap 1 of the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix.
The Brit, who started from fourth, made a good start and hoped to be tucked behind a three-way battle for the lead involving teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc on the run-up to Les Combes.
But Russell came under threat from Lewis Hamilton and going into the corner, tapped the Mercedes sideways, leaving it beached in the gravel, causing a Safety Car and ensuring his retirement from the race.
Hamilton received a five-second time penalty for causing a collision after the incident was investigated by the stewards, who determined that Russell did leave enough room for the Ferrari.
It will be an agonising missed opportunity for Russell, who had managed to close the gap to Antonelli down to 25 points. But after Spa, that gap will grow, if Antonelli secures another win with Russell benched.
Speaking to media, including Motorsport Week, Russell pinpointed a battery issue that resulted in his slowness, causing Hamilton to close.
“I made a good start, I made a great first corner and I was tucked up right behind Verstappen, but for whatever reason the battery decided not to recharge at Turn 1, so I went around the first corner the battery didn’t charge and I exited the first corner 35 percent down so and because of that because it didn’t charge.
“I also had a boost problem the turbo didn’t sort itself out so I had no power I got to the top of Eau Rouge with zero percent on the battery.
“Quite frankly, it was dangerous, you know? I got swamped by three cars, shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place, that’s why I’m most angry.”
DRAMA ON THE OPENING LAP 😮
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 19, 2026
George Russell spins at Les Combes and is OUT of the race ❌#F1 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/7vy8MDZYu8
‘I’m numb to the disappointment’
Russell put the onus slightly onto Hamilton, but deemed their touch as a racing incident.
“And the incident with Lewis, obviously I think was a racing incident, he didn’t do it on purpose,” he continued, “so yeah, he was more to blame than I, but he didn’t do anything reckless, it was just that was one of those things.
“I’m just most angry that I was in that position in the first place. I was in a great position out of Turn 1 and I was ready to fight the two guys ahead of me up to Turn 5.
“Instead, I get swamped by three drivers. now this time something totally different.”
When asked if, after the misfortune he has suffered already this season, he can find it easier to dust off, Russell responded: “I’m numb to the disappointment now sowhen it happens so often, you just get used to it.”
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