Famous win for Frank, fluke second for George

Former Wisbech Grammar School student George Russell claimed his first podium finish in Formula One last weekend...albeit in farcical circumstances.

Two attempts were made to stage a proper race at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, but heavy rain made conditions too dangerous according to race officials.

Under Formula One rules two laps must be completed to constitute a race so the drivers were made to drive in qualifying formation behind a safety car to enable half points to be awarded.

And Russell was rewarded for a superb effort in qualifying in his usually uncompetitive Williams car when he managed to split the contenders for the Drivers Championship Max Verstaappen and Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen only beat Russell’s best lap with his final attempt.

Russell said: “We don’t often get rewarded for great qualifyings, but we absolutely did in this race.

“It was a shame we didn’t get the race under way but, from my side, and the team’s side it’s an amazing result.

“The whole team deserve it because there has been so much hard work going into the last few years and there has been nothing to show for it, but we absolutely nailed it here.”

Russell’s performance strengthened his claim to become World Champions Hamilton’s mnumber two at Mercedes next season.

Hamilton’s lead in the title race over Verstappen is down to three points ahead of the Dutch GP this weekend.

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The fourth round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup powered by AWS proved to be a memorable one for Nassington driver Frank Bird who swept to victory at Brands Hatch.

At the Kent track where his father Paul’s British Superbike Championship team had so much success 22-yearold Bird and Japanese teammate Ryuichiro Tomita took a magnificent third place overall in the opening race which they then backed up with an impressive fifth overall in race two.

But as well as lifting the trophy for third overall in race one, Penrith-born Frank and Tomita won the Silver Cup class followed by a second place in class in the second outing to round off a fantastic weekend.

Frank Bird (right) with co-driver Ryuichiri Tomita at Brands Hatch