11 October 2023 , 08:34
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Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have been told their first lap collision in Qatar was "avoidable" and scuppered what should have been a double podium finish for Mercedes.
The pair started behind Max Verstappen on the grid, with Hamilton seemingly hell-bent on making progress from third place on soft-compound tyres, with the Red Bull man and Russell on mediums. But the seven-time world champion's right rear wheel made contact with his teammate and both drivers spun off the track.
Russell recovered to finish fourth, whilst Hamilton's race ended on the spot. And the 38-year-old later admitted to causing the crash, saying: "I've watched the replay and it was 100% my fault."
And post-race, Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz said the incident represented a wasted opportunity for Mercedes. "Had they given each other a bit of room, it wouldn’t have happened," he said. "As well as being frustrating because the car had pace, as well as Mercedes believing they would have been quicker than McLaren, and it would have been a double podium, it wouldn’t have been Lando and Oscar, it would’ve been George and Lewis on the podium."
And Kravitz alleged that a pre-race meeting ultimately contributed to the flashpoint. “As well as throwing away a double podium behind Max Verstappen, they had talked about the fact that Lewis was starting on the soft tyre, the quicker tyre, off the line and might be quicker than George into the first corner," he added.
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“They talked about it in the Mercedes briefing in the morning. How avoidable was all of this, I want to know? Bradley Lord (team head of communication) said ‘we discussed it’."
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Lewis Hamilton took responsibility for the crash on lap one (Getty Images)Kravitz then expressed doubt over the clarity behind any discussions, and added that the collision was not the fault of Russell. “It adds to the frustration," he continued. "Especially, as George and Lewis underlined, everyone has put in a real shift at Mercedes, putting in the late hours.”
Mercedes now have just five races to notch a solitary win in the 2023 season. The Silver Arrows currently lie second in the constructors' table, 28 points clear of closest rivals Ferrari.
In the individual standings, Hamilton is still on course to finish above his compatriot this time around. The F1 icon is third overall on 194 points, five places and 62 points clear of Russell.