18 September 2023 , 10:06
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Lewis Hamilton showed his class as he offered support to George Russell after his gut-wrenching crash at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Mercedes were charging in the late stages of the race. The team had gambled by pitting both drivers for fresh medium tyres in the hope that they would have the pace advantage to make up for the time lost and challenge for the win.
It threatened to pay off for a while as Hamilton set the fastest lap and both Brits made light work of catching and overtaking Charles Leclerc. Soon they were on the tail of Lando Norris, but running out of time.
On the final lap, pushing hard in his desperation, Russell made a mistake and clipped the barrier on the inside of a corner. It sent him across the track to crash into the Tec-pro at the other side, cruelly ending his race.
Hamilton inherited third place and a spot on the podium, while Russell went home with nothing. And he was close to tears as he spoke to reporters after the race and declared how he felt he had let his Mercedes team down.
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Speaking in the press conference for the top three drivers, Hamilton expressed his sympathy for his team-mate and pledged his support. "We are all trying to be millimetre perfect out there and it's very, very easy to make mistakes. It's easy for any of us, being in the position George was in," he said.
"He had been driving phenomenal all weekend, so it was really unfortunate for him, last lap, to finish that way. But he continues to grow and improve. I know that he will keep getting stronger and faster. If there is any way I can help him be a part of that over the next couple of years.
"I have a lot of experience, I've been here a long time, putting together a race is, not that it's easy, but the race is where I'm most comfortable on track. It's just about keeping your head down. If you look at last year I made a mistake at turn seven and went off and crashed in the wall. It can happen to any of us. It's just one of those things.”
Earlier, Russell had said: " No words, to be honest. Such a long and difficult race. Difficult to keep concentration when Carlos was doing a great job backing the pack up and not allowing us to do the alternative strategy. I think we were half a car's length from winning the race had I got past Lando when I had the opportunity. I think we'd have been able to get past Carlos.
"On the last lap, a millimetre's lapse in concentration and it's game over. I'm so sorry to the whole team. It was a really challenging race with the tyres dropping off, pushing the limits. It's how racing should be and you make a small mistake and you're bitten for it.
"It's heart-breaking after such a great weekend. The car felt great, qualifying, the race was great and we were bold with the strategy. I feel like I've let myself and the team down. It's tough. We'll be back."