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Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton slides off the monitor after crashing out of the Qatari Formulation One Grand Prix at Lusail Worldwide Circuit on October 8, 2023. (Photograph by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)
Lewis Hamilton accepted duty on Sunday for his opening nook collision with Mercedes teammate George Russell that noticed him crash out of the Qatar Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion misplaced his rear proper wheel when he hit the entrance wing of Russell’s automotive as he tried to go him on the surface.
Russell additionally spun however recovered and, after a right away pit cease for repairs, rejoined the race and completed fourth.
“I really feel so sorry for my workforce,” mentioned a crestfallen Hamilton. “The chance was there for us to attain quite a lot of good factors.
“It was all within the warmth of the second. I imply… I didn’t actually perceive what occurred. I simply felt the faucet from behind and I don’t assume George most likely had anyplace to go.
“It’s simply a kind of actually unlucky conditions. I’m blissful to take duty for it.
“Everyone seems to be working so extremely onerous and so it’s simply massively gutting to have a outcome like this. It’s very uncommon that this occurs for me, however I hope George is ready to get again into the factors at this time.”
Drama from the get-go in Lusail 😵#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/1ZM9na9CIi
— Formulation 1 (@F1) October 8, 2023
He later posted on X (previously Twitter), confirming it was his fault.
“I’ve watched the replay and it was one hundred pc my fault and I take full duty. Apologies to my workforce and to George,” he mentioned.
Russell mentioned he was upset as a result of he felt {that a} podium end was a practical goal for each Mercedes drivers earlier than the race.
Hamilton was the one main driver to start out the race on tender tires, giving him a grip benefit within the early levels of the race, as he sought to go each Russell and pole-sitter Max Verstappen.
Verstappen, who clinched his third consecutive world title on Saturday, cruised to victory within the race.
Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton stands subsequent to his broken automotive after crashing out of the Qatari Formulation One Grand Prix at Lusail Worldwide Circuit on October 8, 2023. (Photograph by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)
Russell mentioned: “I do know it was nothing intentional. If you find yourself racing in these automobiles, you possibly can’t see as a result of they’ve such large blind spots and it is rather troublesome. I’m certain we’ll talk about it and it is going to be all okay.”
Hamilton was fined 50,000 euros ($52,758), half of which is suspended, and given a reprimand by the race stewards for strolling throughout the monitor after the crash.
“Through the listening to the motive force of automotive 44 was very apologetic and realized that the state of affairs may have been very harmful for him in addition to the drivers approaching,” the stewards mentioned in a press release.
Hamilton has skilled solely six opening-lap retirements in his 327 races.
With 5 races remaining, he lies third within the drivers’ title race on 194 factors behind Verstappen on 433 and Purple Bull’s second driver Sergio Perez, who completed tenth, on 225.
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