“Not Trying To Drive Into His Teammate”: George Russell’s Hairy Move Against Lewis Hamilton Justified Despite an Official FIA Warning

George Russell, the young British racing driver, has been given a formal warning by the stewards following a collision with his compatriot and seven-time Formula 1 champion, Lewis Hamilton. The incident took place at the end of Q2, and it was initially described as “dangerous” by Hamilton over the team radio.

Russell, driving for Mercedes, was believed to be heading into the pits, but instead, he continued on the track, taking advantage of a slipstream from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz down the start-finish straight.

In a post-qualifying analysis by Sam Collins, he reveals that, with Hamilton following closely behind his Mercedes teammate, he attempted an overtake maneuver. However, Russell’s own maneuver on Sainz resulted in a collision, with their wheels banging together at speeds exceeding 200mph. Hamilton was forced to veer onto the grass, with both wheels on the left-hand side of his W14, causing plumes of dust to fly up as he returned to the track.

Collins added, “The only reason russell moved to the left is to give some space to the Ferrari (Sainz) and he was not trying to drive into his teammate. He simply didn’t knew Lewis was there. The team didn’t tell him.” During the post qualifying interview, Russell elaborated, “You can’t see really far at the last turn, I don’t even know if Lewis was starting his lap or finishing his lap. This is not ideal for the both of us.”

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The incident highlights some important factors for both the team and the drivers.

What are the implications and learnings from the mistakes of Mercedes and George Russell?

After careful consideration, the stewards decided to issue a formal warning to both George Russell and the Mercedes team. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of clear communication between drivers and their teams on the track, as split-second decisions can have significant consequences in the high-speed world of Formula 1.

In the official report, it was stated, “The driver of car 63 (Russell) stated that as he was just starting his fast lap, he was looking forward and had not checked his mirrors. His team did not inform him of the approach of car 44 (Hamilton). However, in mitigation, he was reacting to the car in front of him (car 55, Sainz) which had just finished its fast lap. In addition, at the end of his out lap, the driver of car 63 had to slow significantly to avoid impeding cars 1 (Max Verstappen) and 55 (Sainz)”

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In the fast-paced world of Formula 1, split-second decisions and precise communication play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of drivers on the track. The collision between George Russell and Lewis Hamilton during qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix serves as a stark reminder of the need for improved communication and situational awareness among drivers.