“Habitual offender, caught red-handed”- Fans taunt Lewis Hamilton despite publicly apologizing to Mercedes and George Russell for Qatar GP crash

The crash was deemed as a racing incident and neither Lewis Hamilton nor George Russell were awarded any fines.


“Habitual offender, caught red-handed”- Fans taunt Lewis Hamilton despite publicly apologizing to Mercedes and George Russell for Qatar GP crash

Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff (Via IMAGO)

Mercedes had a roller coaster ride of a Qatar GP and will be marred by the turn one crash at the start of the main race. The Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, collided with each other on the first lap, sending Hamilton’s car careening into the gravel minus a rear wheel. The incident, initially marked by finger-pointing, unfolded into a tale of sportsmanship and accountability as Hamilton issued a public apology. 

The collision, which echoed the wounds of the 2016 Spanish GP, initially triggered immediate frustration. Over team radio, the seven-time champion ranted, saying, “I got taken out by my own teammate.” However, a swift twist occurred as the 38-year-old took to social media to publicly shoulder the blame after reviewing the replay.

YouTube video

“I’ve watched the replay, and it was 100% my fault, and I take full responsibility. Apologies to my team and to George,” Hamilton shared on his official X handle. The seven-time champion, addressing Sky Sports in the media pen after a premature retirement, apologized to the team and acknowledged his mistake. 

FS Video

The on-track collision itself was a result of Hamilton’s attempt to pass Russell on the outside, leading to contact between their cars and a spin that left both drivers navigating challenging circumstances. Russell, audibly frustrated over the radio, apologized multiple times to his team, expressing his disbelief at an on-track tussle two weekends in a row and feeling “totally sandwiched.”

Discover: “What the hell, two races in a row,” George Russell vents on team radio over clash with Lewis Hamilton on Qatar GP lap one

Fans take relief in Sergio Perez’s nightmarish Qatar GP

The remote intervention of absent team boss Toto Wolff, recovering from knee surgery, directed Russell to refocus amid the chaos. Despite the collision’s impact on Mercedes’ constructors’ standing, Russell displayed resilience, finishing fourth after starting second. This tweet triggered a flurry of replies from fans and enthusiasts who have appreciated his sportsmanship.

Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez
Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez (Credits: Essentially Sports)

The crash hurt the Mercedes man’s chances of closing in on Sergio Perez, however, the Mexican hasn’t had a very successful race either, and fans were relieved about it. However, there have been another set of fans that blamed him and mocked his driving style for the crash. They claimed that Lewis is a ‘habitual offender’ for the collision. Amidst this, there was also another group of fans that rightly denied that this was Hamilton’s fault and claimed that it was a PR cover-up.

https://twitter.com/astoldbysimmy/status/1711086074158526491

Hamilton’s early exit hindered their chance to extend the gap over Ferrari and to close in on Perez, widening the gap to 39 points. Max Verstappen clinched victory in Qatar, with the both Mclaren teammates on the podium, highlighting the unexpected dynamics while Hamilton and Russell’s sportsmanship underscored F1 camaraderie.

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