P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hamilton shoulders blame for Turn 1 clash with Russell in Qatar
Lewis Hamilton acknowledged his fault in the collision with George Russell at the Qatar Grand Prix and expressed that their relationship is still intact. Both drivers, representing Mercedes, collided at the start of the race when Hamilton, on soft tires, attempted to overtake Russell and Max Verstappen by going around the outside, inadvertently making contact with Russell’s left front wheel. Hamilton retired from the race, while Russell spun and sustained damage that affected his performance. After initially blaming each other, Hamilton, upon reviewing the replays, took full responsibility and apologized to his team and Russell. Despite previous close encounters between the two drivers, Hamilton emphasized that their relationship remains strong and they will resolve the issue privately. Hamilton acknowledged the frustration caused by the incident and acknowledged that both of them suffered as a result. He also mentioned that he attempted the overtake due to the tire differential but ultimately did not feel it was Russell’s fault.
Source: Racer
