In the Qatar Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had an altercation during the first lap, adding to Mercedes’ ongoing challenges.
Former F1 team manager turned pundit Peter Windsor believes that the dynamic between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell is out of control, placing the blame at the feet of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
The relationship between the two Mercedes drivers has been placed under tension throughout the 2023 season with points of friction coming most notably at Barcelona, Spa and Suzuka, although this was elevated to another level in Qatar.
After Hamilton got a positive start off the line he attempted to make a move around the outside into turn one but failed to leave enough room for Russell on the inside, making contact on his right-rear tyre and sending him spinning out into the gravel trap.
Both drivers were left frustrated on the radio with Hamilton claiming he was “taken out by my own team-mate,” and Russell raging that he was left with nowhere to go after watching the incident from his cockpit on one of the big screens.
Discussing the crash after the Qatar Grand Prix, Windsor commented: “Just imagine if Mercedes were in the running for the world championship in any given situation, in any given year, imagine what it’d be like between Lewis and George Russell.”
