DOHA, Qatar – Lewis Hamilton crashed out of the Qatar Grand Prix after colliding with teammate George Russell on the first nook, an incident Hamilton accepted duty for.
Russell and Hamilton had been beginning second and third and located themselves alongside one another going into Flip 1.
Hamilton was on the skin and Russell was bottled up behind Verstappen, who began from pole place. When Russell moved out to his left, Hamilton got here previous at velocity they usually collided.
The collision took Hamilton’s proper rear tyre from his automobile and dumped him within the gravel, immediately ending his race. Russell was in a position to proceed.
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Hamilton out of Qatar GP after first-lap collision with Russell
Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell make contact on Flip 1 of the Qatar Grand Prix.
Instantly after the crash Mercedes requested Hamilton if he was OK, to which he curtly replied: “Yeah, I received taken out by my very own teammate”.
Russell clearly felt his teammate was at fault, saying over his personal radio channel: “Come on guys! Two races in a row.”
Russell radioed twice extra within the laps which adopted.
“I am so sorry guys I wasn’t even wanting behind,” he mentioned after making a pit-stop to restore harm. “I used to be simply targeted forward and simply got here from nowhere.”
“F—— misplaced for phrases, actually,” Russell mentioned in one other radio message in the course of the Security Automotive interval which adopted.
“Simply seen the replays on the TV display. I could not do something. Completely sandwiched.”
Shortly afterwards Hamilton made his option to the media pen and admitted he had put Russell in a tough place.
“I believe within the warmth within the second I felt… it was clearly irritating as a result of I felt this faucet from the rear finish. However I do not assume George had anyplace to go,” he mentioned. “I believe it was simply an unlucky situation, I am comfortable to take duty as that is my position.
“I want to return and have a look at it however I do not really feel it was George’s fault.”
Hamilton downplayed any suggestion the crash would result in a tense ambiance with Russell.
“The connection is not damaged. I haven’t got any I’ve any issues with George. We’ve got an incredible relationship and we at all times discuss issues. That is undoubtedly unlucky and I am certain he was annoyed within the second, like I used to be.
“However we’ll discuss it offline and we’ll transfer forwards. This apology is to all of the workforce.”