How did Lewis Hamilton’s first lap crash with George Russell affect the 2023 drivers championship standing?

The Qatar GP unfolded with dramatic consequences for both the individual and team standings, particularly in the aftermath of the collision involving Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. While the structural positions of teams and drivers remained largely intact, the points differentials witnessed significant fluctuations.

Mercedes, initially poised to extend their lead over Ferrari in the constructor standings, faced setbacks due to the collision. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz‘s absence from the race further provided them a strong chance of pulling ahead of the Maranello squad. However, the crash dented their hopes for a decent points finish. 

Despite Hamilton’s retirement, Russell exhibited remarkable speed, surging from the rear to secure a commendable fourth place. Consequently, Mercedes gained a marginal advantage over Ferrari, accumulating two points in the main event and an additional eight points in the Sprint, with Charles Leclerc’s five-second penalty further contributing to their lead. The points gap now stands at 28.

Ahead of the Qatar GP, Lando Norris and George Russell were level on points in 7th and 8th positions. Norris, by earning an extra point in the Sprint, edged ahead. In the race, Russell’s aspirations suffered a blow following the collision, allowing Norris to finish one position higher. Russell’s strong performance throughout the race accentuates the missed opportunity, given his starting position in second.

Discover more: George Russell claims the dramatic collision with Lewis Hamilton cost Mercedes a chance to fight Max Verstappen

McLaren emerged as the principal beneficiary in the aftermath of the Qatar GP

Oscar Piastri emerged as a standout performer, navigating the chaos to secure a second-place finish in Qatar. Second only to the champion Max Verstappen by a mere 7 points over the weekend, Piastri showcased his prowess. The Australian rookie is now on a roll with two consecutive podiums and a Sprint win in his bag. 

Despite a promising P3 start, Hamilton couldn’t secure points in the race. However, Perez’s struggles allowed Hamilton to outscore him by 3 points, capitalizing on the Sprint where Perez retired. The Mercedes collision marked a turning point, with McLaren gaining the most, narrowing the gap to Aston Martin by 38 points. In the lower mid-field, Alpine and Williams maintained positions, but Valtteri Bottas propelled Alfa Romeo from 9th to 8th, overtaking Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg.

In the midst of the championship chaos, Red Bull and Max Verstappen remained unfazed, leading both charts since the season’s onset. Their dominance has been unwavering, leaving the rest of the field to contend for the remaining scraps.

F1 Drivers’ Standings:

F1 Constructors’ Standings:

With five races remaining, Red Bull’s continued supremacy appears a foregone conclusion.

In case you missed it:

• Christian Horner admits Red Bull has a weak line-up compared to Mercedes and Ferrari, says they ‘need to get Checo back to the best form’
• FIFA President Gianni SPOTTED with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali at the Qatar Grand Prix

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