Russell holds off Hamilton for stunning win in Belgium

Seven seconds behind them, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc – who had been passed by Piastri with nine laps to go around the outside of the Les Combes chicane – spent the closing laps fending off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and the second McLaren of Lando Norris.

The three spent the final four laps neck and neck but Leclerc managed to hold his rivals at bay.

Behind Norris, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz passed Red Bull’s Sergio Perez with five laps to go to raise further questions about Perez’s future.

Red Bull are expected to make a decision as to whether to drop him for the rest of the season over the forthcoming summer break – just two months after the Mexican signed a new two-year contract.

And dropping from second on the grid to finish at the back of the top four teams will have done Perez no favours. (BBC)