The Qatar Grand Prix witnessed a dramatic clash between the two Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, which further escalated the growing tensions between the pair. The incident unfolded at the dash to Turn 1 and left Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff watching from home, still recovering from a recent knee operation.
The collision and the subsequent fallout have added to the already simmering rivalry between Russell and Hamilton, following their intense battle in Suzuka.
While Wolff was not present at the track, he closely monitored the race from his makeshift pit wall setup at home. After the incident, he swiftly responded to a visibly frustrated Russell, who had plummeted from P2 to the rear of the pack due to the collision. Hamilton, on the other hand, had to retire from the race and pointed the blame squarely at Russell.
Russell expressed his frustration over the radio, saying, “I’m f***ing lost for words, honestly. I’ve just seen the replays on the TV screen…couldn’t do anything. Totally sandwiched.”
Wolff intervened, encouraging Russell, “George…let’s race now. Let’s do the best out of it.”
Before this exchange, Russell had already shared his initial thoughts on the collision, apologizing to his team and expressing his astonishment at Hamilton’s sudden appearance in the incident.
Despite initial concerns that the damage from the collision might force Russell to retire, the British driver showcased an impressive recovery drive, finishing in fourth place. The race was ultimately won by Max Verstappen, with McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris securing podium positions.
The ongoing rivalry between Russell and Hamilton is adding an extra layer of drama to the Formula 1 season, with tensions continuing to rise.
