Russell made a superb getaway from eighth and coming down the hill from La Supply he tried to move the ailing Piastri, the Australian having broken his automotive when squeezed between the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz and the within barrier.
Russell headed to Piastri’s left, following Lando Norris, however discovering the route blocked, he was compelled to again off.
Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll all went previous into Eau Rouge, whereas Alex Albon obtained a superb tow and dragged by on the finish of the straight.
Having tumbled to eleventh, Russell went for an extended opening stint and a single cease, and finally recovered to sixth.
“It was simply very unlucky to start with,” he stated when requested by Motorsport.com about his afternoon.
“When Oscar had his failure, I went to the left, kind of misjudged that he can flip, I obtained boxed in, and misplaced 4 or 5 positions initially.
“In order that sort of dictated my race. If it wasn’t for that we’d have been P5. I might have appreciated to assume I might have been there with Lewis [Hamilton] and Charles [Leclerc], combating for the rostrum.”
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W14, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR23
Picture by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Images
He added: “I feel one cease round right here was a fairly aggressive stint. The final stint I felt actually robust on the gentle tyre. It is simply been a extremely difficult weekend. Glad it is over. A little bit of a reset, and go once more.”
Russell admitted that his lengthy first stint wasn’t simple, particularly when it started to rain and he was on older tyres.
“I imply, it was positively difficult when the rain began coming down,” he stated. “Once more, if we knew how a lot rain there was going to be, we’d have pitted onto the gentle, and that is once you would have had the most important distinction in these difficult situations.
“However yeah, all in all, it was a superb race. Each the races had been aggressive, opening that hole to P3 within the championship. However we’re nonetheless targeted on Pink Bull, and making an attempt to shut that hole.”
Russell admitted that he thought McLaren could be quicker at Spa, and conversely Ferrari much less so.
“They [McLaren] weren’t as aggressive as I believed they had been going be this race,” he stated. “I feel Charles was possibly a shock for us. I do not assume we anticipated them being so fast.
“However as I stated, we’re in a superb place within the groups’ championship. That appears fairly safe for now. However we’re simply targeted on making an attempt to win a race this yr.”
