The start of the Qatar GP would’ve reminded every seasoned Formula 1 fan of the 2016 Spanish GP. To jog your memories (or for the unversed), here’s what happened. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg started on the front row of the grid. That was the year the two of them went against each other for the championship in a classic case of best friends turned rivals. And that rivalry was nothing short of explosive. As the five lights went out, Rosberg overtook Hamilton, and a few laps later, Mercedes’ worst nightmare unraveled right in front of it. The two drivers came together and took each other out of the race. At the Qatar GP this year, something very similar happened.

Since the time the prospect of Geroge Russell joining Mercedes came up, Hamilton had been pretty averse about it. He knew the young gun would push him and ruin the balance of the team. The inevitable happened, and Russell joined Hamilton in 2022. While they had a pretty somber season and a half, the past few races have been explosive. And it blew up at the Qatar GP.

Lewis Hamilton apologized to Mercedes after the Russell collision

Last time out at the Japanese GP, Mercedes was supposed to race Ferrari on track. Instead, it was the Mercedes boys fighting each other. A few almost collisions left the Mercedes pit wall at the edge of their seats, and in the end, Toto Wolff had to interfere to avoid an implosion. The situation from Suzuka seems to have carried on to Qatar because the two drivers came together on the first lap!

Russell and Hamilton were lining up P2 and P3 on the grid behind Max Verstappen. Considering they’re fighting Ferrari for P2 in the championship, this should’ve been a weekend where they could’ve extended their 20-point lead. Instead, it ended in almost a complete disaster. With Hamilton starting on the soft tires (an aggressive yet peculiar choice considering the tire degradation during the Sprint), Russell started on the mediums. Off the line, Hamilton got a much better start and tried to go for the lead. It was three cars side by side going into Turn 1, with Russell sandwiched between Hamilton and Verstappen. 

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It ended a lot like the Hulkenberg, Ocon, and Perez crash in the Sprint. Hamilton was too eager for the lead, didn’t see Russell on the inside, and collided with his teammate. The 38-year-old ended up in the gravel, but unlike the 2016 Spanish GP, it wasn’t a double DNF. Russell continued, but it wasn’t how he would’ve wanted his race to go. After reviewing footage following his retirement, Hamilton talked to F1 journalist Lawrence Barretto. He said, “Gutting. Massive apology to everyone back at the factory. It was just probably a racing incident. I take full responsibility for it. I don’t think George had anywhere to go.”

Mercedes War Takes New Turn as Lewis Hamilton’s Wavering Trust in Toto Wolff & Co. Contradicted by George Russell

Hamilton took full responsibility for the collision, even though it was a racing incident. Even so, he wasn’t happy with one decision his team made before the race started.

Lewis Hamilton was a “sitting duck”

Last weekend at the Japanese GP, George Russell was deemed a sitting duck. Why? Because of a strategy decision Mercedes made. Tire degradation was unusually high at Suzuka this season, and that warranted a two-stop race for every driver. Well, everyone except Russell. While trying to maximize his points haul, he opted for a one-stop strategy, which ultimately was the wrong decision. Mercedes should’ve known that and urged Russell to do a two-stop race. Instead, it left him out to dry (at his explicit request, still…). What could’ve been a P5 and P6 finish for the Brackley outfit was instead a P5 and P7—Hamilton ahead of Russell.

This time, Mercedes compromised Hamilton (but does it really count if he didn’t get past the first corner). Seeing how poor the soft tire’s performance was after a few laps of the Sprint, Mercedes still put Hamilton on the softs for the race start. While they would’ve hoped for Hamilton to take the lead and go from there, Hamilton had a different opinion. On the formation lap, he radioed in and said, “I’m a sitting duck to all these guys.” 

Well, we didn’t really get to see how much of a sitting duck he was because of the collision, but most likely, it was the wrong decision. Either way, who do you think was to blame for the collision? Lewis Hamilton or George Russell?

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