P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes predicted Russell would score minor points in Qatar comeback
Mercedes’ plan was to put pressure on Max Verstappen by starting in second and third positions. However, their attempt to pass him in Turn 1 resulted in contact between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, causing Hamilton to spin out of the race. Russell continued but had to pit immediately to replace his damaged front wing. Despite starting at the back, Russell used a four-stop strategy to climb back up to fourth place. Mercedes initially expected him to only finish in the lower points, but his performance exceeded their expectations. The collision between the two Mercedes cars was caused by their different tire choices, with Hamilton starting on the Soft compound for better grip off the line. Team orders were not imposed during the race, and the incident was simply a mistake.
Source: Motorsport Week
