F1 Championship leader George Russell battled Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during the second stint at the Chinese GP. As the two Ferrari teammates battled hard, the Mercedes driver took to the team radio, complaining about the Monegasque driver’s aggressive driving against the seven-time F1 champion.
Mercedes locked out of the front row at the Chinese GP qualifying, followed by Ferrari locking out the second row. Lewis Hamilton got a fantastic launch off the line and got into the lead, with Charles Leclerc passing George Russell and getting up to P3.
Eventually, over the next few laps, Mercedes were able to regain the 1-2, when an untimely safety car caused by Lance Stroll pushed the Top 4 to pit. After the restart, George Russell was passed by both Ferraris, as Kimi Antonelli ran off into the distance.
From Lap 14 to Lap 29, Russell battled hard against the two Ferraris before eventually getting up into P2. During these 15 laps, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc raced each other hard and swapped positions for P2 multiple times.
On Lap 24, Leclerc made a move on his teammate going into the penultimate corner, followed up by backing the seven-time F1 champion momentarily to get a better exit off the final corner. All this while the Ferrari battled, George Russell was in P4, and complained about how hard Leclerc was racing Hamilton.
“What is Leclerc doing? Leclerc just backed up Lewis…” said Russell on the radio on Lap 24.
Russell was able to get by both Ferraris towards the end of Lap 29, but the gap to Kimi Antonelli had increased to nearly eight seconds. The #63 Mercedes driver wasn’t able to chase down his teammate, as the 19-year-old took his first win in F1, becoming the second youngest driver to do so.
George Russell on Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton passing him after the safety car restart, hindering his chances of winning the Chinese GP
George Russell was only able to do one flying lap at the Chinese GP Q3 after a malfunction with the car. With a suboptimal prep lap, cold tires to start the flying lap, along with zero battery, Russell only managed a lap good enough for P2.
After the safety car restart, Russell in P2 was passed by both the Ferraris, who battled hard, and the Mercedes driver only got past them on Lap 29, when Kimi Antonelli had already disappeared into the distance. Detailing how battling the Ferrari hindered his chances of winning, Russell said,
“Obviously the race start, Ferrari got the upper hand of us; Safety Car restart, they got the upper hand on us, and unfortunately that hindered my chances of going for victory. Kimi did a great job so really well done to him, but Ferrari once again… Three races down, three races they’ve made our life pretty awkward in those opening laps. At least I’m glad it provided some good entertainment for you.”
Russell still lead the F1 championship, but by just 4 points gap to his teammate Kimi Antonelli.
Edited by Pranay Bhagi
