George Russell has been issued a ‘formal warning’ following his Spanish Grand Prix clash with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton. The Silver Arrows colleagues collided in Q2 ahead of Sunday’s race in Barcelona, with Hamilton appearing annoyed over the incident.
Mercedes have since explained the crash as ‘miscommunication’ between their two British drivers. However, Russell has now been issued a ‘formal warning’ over the incident.
A statement from the race stewards read: “The stewards heard from the driver of car 63 (George Russell), the driver of car 44 (Lewis Hamilton), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, team radio and in-car video evidence.
“The driver of car 63 stated that as he was just starting his fast lap he was looking forward and had not checked his mirrors. His team did not inform him of the approach of car 44. However, in mitigation, he was reacting to the car in front of him (car 55 [Sainz]) which had just finished its fast lap. In addition at the end of his out lap the driver of car 63 had to slow significantly to avoid impeding cars one (Verstappen) and 55.”
Russell and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff have both explained the clash as a ‘miscommunication’ on the part of both drivers.
Asked if it had all been part of a plan, Russell quipped: “I hope that wasn’t part of the plan, because it’s not a good plan if it is! No, I think it was just a big miscommunication, a lot of traffic on the out-lap, I was just looking ahead trying to take the slipstream from Carlos [Sainz], and the next thing [I know] Lewis was there.
“Fortunately, nothing big happened, but I’m just a bit disappointed to be out in Q2. I was really struggling with the car the whole session, wasn’t feeling the same as it was in practice, and that was kind of the maximum I could get out of it. Not ideal, but it’s a long race tomorrow.”
Pushed on whether Mercedes had been trying to set up a tow between their two drivers, Russell added: “No, not between the two of us. I think there were cars on fast laps behind us. I had to let Sainz past at Turn 13, you can’t really see that far in the distance.
“Maybe Lewis was starting his lap… I don’t even know if he was starting his lap or finishing his lap. Obviously it’s not ideal for the both of us, but that didn’t really contribute towards the lack of pace.”
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