WATCH: Complete silence on Lewis Hamilton's team radio as George Russell beats him using alternate strategy

Veteran Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was on course to win the Belgian GP until George Russell managed to pull off a one-stopper, denying Hamilton his second victory of the season.

Starting third on the grid, Hamilton took the lead in the race after dispatching Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc early on. Leclerc's second stop forced the team to pit Hamilton, with Piastri following suit. On the other hand, Russell had nothing to lose and decided not to pit, stretching his second stint to the checkered flag.

Hamilton caught up with George Russell in the final laps, with the team allowing both drivers to fight it out for the lead. Using the clean air to his advantage, Russell defended on old hard tires to win the race ahead of his teammate, with Oscar Piastri finishing a close third.

Hamilton was left speechless after losing out on a victory. His silence over the radio, during the short in-lap, showed his disappointment at how the final laps panned out. Watch the seven-time F1 champion's radio silence after taking the checkered flag in the video below.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admitted that the team didn't believe a one-stop race was feasible early on. However, they decided to gamble on Russell, who had nothing to lose by extending his stint. He told Sky Sports F1:

"We didn’t think it was possible but at a certain stage we said, let’s stay out, because we were going to finish fifth anyway, both scenarios. He stayed out and in the end he made it last."

Lewis Hamilton secured his record 201st podium result, while Russell took home his third F1 victory.

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Lewis Hamilton reflects on the final laps of the Belgian GP

In the final laps of the Belgian GP, Lewis Hamilton closed the gap to his teammate George Russell but couldn't overtake him. Russell managed to fend off Hamilton's overtake attempts, stretching his final stint over 34 laps to win the race.

Hamilton believed he could have stayed out longer in his second stint, instead of covering Charles Leclerc, which ultimately cost him the race win. Despite the disappointing end to the race, he lauded Russell's 34-lap stint on the hard tires.

"I was trying to get closer obviously, but George did a great job going long on the tyres. Every stint I had tyres left but the team brought me in, so unfortunate, but it is one of those days."

Lewis Hamilton suggested the McLarens were also quick, but the team made the right setup changes over the weekend which helped improve their pace drastically. Heading into the summer break, Hamilton occupies sixth in the drivers standings, with 143 points, two points ahead of his teammate Russell.