P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell believes the clashes he encountered with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the 2023 Formula 1 season are “normal
Last season, the Mercedes drivers had several close encounters on the track, almost making contact twice in Japan and having a collision in Qatar. Despite these incidents, George Russell downplayed their significance, saying that it is normal when two evenly matched drivers compete within the same team. He emphasized the trust they have in each other and the understanding to give enough space while racing wheel-to-wheel. Russell attributed the Qatar crash to a small misjudgment but believes it was another missed opportunity for a podium or even a potential victory. He acknowledged that he made mistakes during the season, including crashing out in Singapore, but stated that he is pushing himself to go beyond just being on par with his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, and wants to be ahead.
