As of: March 26, 2024, 6:34 a.m
By: Jannek Ringen
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It was a used Australian Grand Prix for Mercedes.
George Russell was once again frightened after his accident.
Melbourne – On the second racing weekend of the year in Formula 1, Carlos Sainz managed to break Max Verstappen’s dominance.
The almost unstoppable Dutchman had to park his Red Bull early on due to a defect.
Mercedes driver George Russell also couldn't finish the race and came away with a shock.
Used weekend for Russell and Hamilton in the Mercedes
Qualifying already went anything but according to plan for the Mercedes racing team.
While George Russell was able to start the race in seventh place, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton missed Q3 and had to start the race in eleventh place, way behind the front runners.
The 39-year-old was already out of action in the 15th lap due to a defect.
This meant that his teammate Russell would bring home the only points for the once dominant racing team.
In seventh place, the Briton dueled on the final lap of the race with Fernando Alonso, who was ahead of him in sixth place.
However, the Mercedes driver lost control of his car in a curve and crashed into a tire wall.
George Russell's accident at the Australian Grand Prix caused a brief moment of shock.
© IMAGO / Icon Sportswire
Russell with a panicked radio message after an accident
Things got particularly hectic after the accident because Russell rolled back onto the track from the tire stack and came to a stop on a tire.
Since the race was still running behind him, the Mercedes driver quickly recognized the danger in the situation and called over the radio for a red flag and a stop to the race.
“Red flag, red flag, red flag.
I'm in the middle of the route.
Red flag, red flag, red, red, red, red, red.
I'm in the middle.
Red!
Holy shit!” was Russell’s panicked radio message to his team.
However, the stewards did not comply with this and only deployed the Virtual Safety Car.
As a result, the racing pace was reduced and distances to the car in front must be maintained.
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Despite all his worries, Russell was able to get out of his car safely.
Meanwhile, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz took his first win of the season ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc just two weeks after his appendectomy.
But Russell's accident was to have repercussions, as Alonso unusually reduced his speed in the corner.
This meant that the stirred up air affected the aerodynamics of Russell's Mercedes, which could have been a possible reason for the loss of control.
Stewards investigated the incident and concluded that the dangerous maneuver should result in a 20-second penalty.
That's why the Spaniard fell back to eighth place.
(jari)