George Russell believes he was completely right after he and Sergio Perez almost collided during the French Grand Prix.
The Mercedes and Red Bull drivers battled it out for the final podium spot during the closing stages of Sunday’s race at Circuit Paul Ricard, with Russell ultimately winning.
Max Verstappen’s other Red Bull claimed victory, with Russell’s teammate Sir Lewis Hamilton second at 300Formula 1 race.
But the result could have been very different, as when Russell Perez tried to overtake with 10 laps to go, the latter squeezed the former as he took in the inside line, before cutting a corner to avoid a collision.
Then Perez did not relinquish the position, much to Russell’s anger, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff personally going on the team radio to urge the Briton to keep his head down and try to make another move on the Mexican.
“I saw him struggle as Sainz passed and I got that one chance,” Russell said after the race.
“For me, I was on the inside – the rules are pretty clear, from front wheel to rear wheel if you’re on the inside.
“That was what I had, and he didn’t really leave me much room, but still, happy to bring home P3 and two podiums for Mercedes, it’s great.”
Russell eventually passed Perez, but did so in unusual circumstances; with three laps to go, the Virtual Safety Car was activated after Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo broke down and marshals were called in to move him to a safe position.
As the race restarted, Russell shot past Perez, with the Mexican seemingly asleep at the wheel, holding the Red Bull at bay to claim his fourth podium of the year.
‘I’m definitely sweating; I’m a bit distraught right now to be honest. It was a long race, a tough race,” the Mercedes man added.
“The pace was strong, but we really struggled with the warm-up on that restart and Checo [Perez] was all over me, so I was happy to see that checkered flag.”
Perez, meanwhile, was furious on team radio after the initial incident, on the assumption that Russell had forced him off the road and later shouted that his opponent should be penalized for track limits.
However, when it came to the VSC’s restart, he revealed that he had been misinformed when the race would start again and that was why Russell was able to overtake him so easily.
He told Sky Sports: ‘It was a difficult afternoon. First of all, I think we need to have another podium, I don’t know what was going on with the Virtual Safety Car.
‘I am captivated by it. I was told it ended exiting Turn 8 and then it didn’t finish until Turn 13. Not a good day.’
LAKE : Max Verstappen denies French Grand Prix victory was gift wrapped to him by Charles Leclerc crash
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