George Russell will “bounce back” after his crash during the Singapore Grand Prix, says Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
The 25-year-old was pursuing victory late on in the race as he looked to pass second-placed Lando Norris, but ended up crashing into the barriers on the last lap, ending his hopes of a podium-finish.
“It’s very easy, too, for any of us to have been in the position that George was in. He’s been driving phenomenally all weekend, so it was really unfortunate for him [on the] last lap to finish that way… but I know he’ll bounce back.
“He continues to grow, he’s continuing to improve, so I know that he’s going to keep getting stronger and faster, and if there’s any way I can help, I will be a part of that, naturally, in the next couple of years.
“I have a lot of experience. I’ve been here a long time, so putting together a race is… not that it’s easy, but the race is where I’m most comfortable on track, and I think it’s just keeping your head down,” added Hamilton, who finished third behind Norris and Sainz.
“If you look at last year, for example, I made a mistake in Turn 7 and went off and crashed into the wall. So it can happen to any one of us, and it’s just one of those things.”
Mercedes’ team principal Totto Wolff, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “Just a shame for George because he worked hard for that. It could have been a good third and fourth, lots of points, but now we’ve lost 22 against Ferrari.
“It was just an unfortunate moment; he clipped the wall, and it’s a split second of a tiny mistake, and it ends a great race. It’s a shame because he would have deserved [a podium finish].”
Russell was understandably downbeat afterwards, saying: “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 would have been able to get past Carlos.
“Then just the last lap, a millimetre lapse of concentration and game over. So just sorry to the whole team.
“It was a really challenging race; the tyres were dropping off, and you are pushing the limits. That’s how racing should be: you make a small mistake, and you are bitten for it.
“It’s heartbreaking after such a great weekend – the car has felt great, qualifying was great, the race was great, we were bold with the strategy.
“I feel like I let myself and the team down. It’s tough, but we will come back.”
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