Lewis Hamilton accepted the blame for a collision with Mercedes team-mate George Russell at the start of the Qatar Grand Prix. Russell said: “I definitely appreciate him apologising for that. Hamilton’s right rear wheel tagged Russell’s left front and both spun off the track. Hamilton’s desire to make progress from third on the grid was heightened by the fact that he was starting on soft-compound tyres while Verstappen and Russell, who were on the front row, were on mediums. The Mercedes drivers had discussed before the race that Hamilton was likely to pass Russell in the early stages before making a pit stop after just eight laps. Hamilton said: “We knew we had different tyres, and he was like: ‘Let’s just work together.’ Russell said: “Of course frustrated because it was just a missed opportunity for both of us. The fight wasn’t with each other, the fight is with Ferrari.

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