2023-10-08 21:41:23
Bitter Qatar GP for Lewis Hamilton. The Brit collided with his Mercedes teammate George Russell immediately following the start of the race. “That’s an absolute no-go. This is the first corner, you have to give yourself space,” emphasized Sky expert Ralf Schumacher.
Russell started the race from second place on the grid, Hamilton from third place on the grid. The seven-time world champion got away well, sat next to his team-mate, but then turned heavily into turn one. Too strong, because Russell was lying next to Verstappen and therefore had no room to move to the right.
The result: both Mercedes touched each other. Hamilton slipped into the gravel trap and the race was over for him.
Hamilton’s disappointment was clear to see when he stepped in front of the cameras. «I’m sorry for the team. As a team player, I like to take responsibility. I don’t think George had anywhere to go. “It was just an unfortunate incident,” Hamilton said.
Was this situation not an issue before the race? Hamilton briefly and succinctly: “We have at least discussed not driving into each other.”
Schumacher had made up his mind during the broadcast following the slow motion: “Lewis has himself to blame. He has to look in the mirror, leave more space and take a step back.”
Katar-GP, Losail International Circuit
01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:27:39,168 h
02. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +4.833 sec
03. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +5.969
04. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +34,119
05. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +38,976
06. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +49,032
07. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +62,390
08. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Alfa Romeo, +66,563
09. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Alfa Romeo, +76,127
10. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +80,181
11. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +81,652
12. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +82,300
13. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +91,014
14. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Round
15. Yuki Tsunoda (J), AlphaTauri, +1 Runde
16. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1 lap
17. Liam Lawson (NZ), AlphaTauri, +1 Round
Out
Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, did not start
Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, Crash
Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, abandonment
World Championship standings (following 17 of 22 Grand Prix, including 4 of 6 sprints)
driver
01. Verstappen 433 points
02. Pérez 224
03. Hamilton 194
04. Alonso 183
05. Sainz 153
06. Leclerc 145
07. Norris 136
08. Russell 132
09. Plates 83
10. Stroll 47
11. Gasly 46
12. Ocon 44
13. Albon 23
14. Bottas 10
15. Hulkenberg 9
16. Zhou 6
17. Tsunoda 3
18. Magnussen 3
19. Lawson 2
20. Sargeant 0
21. De Vries 0
22. Ricciardo 0
Constructors’ Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 657 Punkte
02. Mercedes 326
03. Ferrari 298
04. Aston Martin 230
05. McLaren 219
06. Alpine 90
07. Williams 23
08. Alfa Romeo 16
09. Haas 12
10. AlphaTauri 5
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#Crash #George #Russell #Lewis #Hamilton
