George Russell has apologised and brought blame for the first-lap collision which resulted in Carlos Sainz’s retirement from the US Grand Prix.
Sainz, ranging from pole, was taking flip one behind Max Verstappen when Russell’s Mercedes clattered into the facet of the Ferrari, leading to a water leak and first-lap retirement for the Spaniard.
Russell recieved a five-second time penalty for inflicting a collision and, after ending in fifth place, took accountability for the incident on the Circuit of the Americas.
“It was pretty miserable, disappointing after and probably not good enough on my behalf from lap one,” he advised Sky F1.
“I went into turn one, braked quite deep and when I saw Carlos was on the outside of Max, I was anticipating him to hang it around the outside.
“But he cut back and that caught me by surprise. By that point, the damage was already done. I’ve seen Carlos and apologised to him. I probably should have been aware of that potential.”
Asked if he sustained harm from the collision, Russell added: “We had some damage which we thought was only balance and not downforce.
“But I’m hoping, when we look at the car, it’s more than we expected because I was nowhere today, absolutely nowhere.
“A little disappointing from my side. When you’re out there trying your hardest and the pace isn’t there, it’s not the nicest feeling.”
Russell stays fourth within the Drivers’ Standings, 16 factors away from Sainz and 20 forward of team-mate Lewis Hamilton with three races to go.
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk