In the recent Qatar Grand Prix, tensions flared as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, both driving for Mercedes, found themselves in an on-track clash. The incident occurred on the first lap of the Grand Prix when Hamilton attempted an audacious move around the outside of his teammate.
This collision followed a hard-fought battle between the two drivers in Japan, where Hamilton pushed Russell wide at the Spoon corner, an action that Russell wasn’t particularly pleased with.
Initially, after the Qatar incident, Hamilton pointed the finger of blame at Russell. However, in the aftermath of the race, Hamilton took a more measured approach. He recognized the contretemps and, when speaking to the media, held his hand up to accept responsibility for the incident.
Despite the on-track clashes, both Hamilton and Russell have committed to Mercedes for the next two years, extending their partnership to at least four years. It’s clear that the preference of these drivers is to maintain a sense of peace and professionalism.
“I think we are a great team. George and I still have a great relationship. We will discuss things and work away,” Hamilton shared in an interview with Sky Italy. He continued, “I’m happy to take responsibility as the older guy. I don’t think George had anywhere to go at that point.”
Hamilton acknowledged the circumstances that led to the collision, emphasizing the urgency of his situation, “I was trying to get ahead of both of them, and just an unfortunate situation. I had the worst tire of everyone around me, so I needed to try and get ahead. Big risk, big penalty.”
Despite the on-track incidents, Hamilton reiterated that their relationship remains strong and intact. He stated, “The relationship isn’t broken. I don’t have any problems with George; we have a great relationship. We work, and we always talk about things.”
In conclusion, Hamilton emphasized that the Qatar clash was unfortunate, and he’s sure that both he and Russell were frustrated in the heat of the moment. They plan to discuss it offline and move forward. Hamilton concluded with a heartfelt apology to the entire team.
This incident serves as a testament to the professional approach that both drivers are committed to, despite the challenges of competing against each other on the track.
