Mercedes hold Lewis Hamilton and George Russell talks in bid to avoid another F1 fiasco

Mercedes previously experienced a failed driver partnership when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg battled for the F1 title, and they won’t want that animosity to happen again.

Mercedes plans to hold separate negotiations with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to avoid a repeat of the accident at the Qatar Grand Prix.

The Briton made contact at the first corner, seconds after the race started. Hamilton, on soft tyres, tried to pass on the outside of his teammate but they made contact, sending the seven-time world champion to the gravel and out of the race.

The two drivers pointed at each other on the radio for the first time. However, after exiting the car and returning to the pit lane to watch the replay, Hamilton admitted he was responsible for the contact. Russell also calmed down when he got out of the car at the end of the race. And Mercedes posted a clip of the two kissing to show that everything is fine between them.

However, the Silver Arrows will not take any risks. This team knows how bad things can get between two drivers trying their best to succeed, having experienced the struggle between Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during the 2016 season.

To ensure they are doing everything possible to avoid a repeat, The Race reports that Mercedes plans to speak to both drivers “behind closed doors” and insists they have been “heroic” in the past. Questioning the case after the race. And they will revive an innovation from this Hamilton-Rosberg period. “We have a racing purpose, a common document that we all adhere to in terms of how we approach racing as a team,” said communications director Bradley Lord. “Drivers bought it, just like everyone else.”

Immediate action to address any ill-feeling that may exist between the drivers is what former racer Ralf Schumacher said the team needs to carry out. “There’s a bit of work to be done between the two now. You can deal with each other either way, the team has to intervene now,” he declared.

And the six-time F1 race winner, now a pundit for Sky Germany’s coverage of the sport, gave his verdict on the incident. “Lewis gives in too early, simply doesn’t give George enough space. The Mercedes were strong, they threw away good points.”

Rosberg himself, now working for Sky’s English-language output, is not sure there is any animosity between the two drivers. “There’s not that much to discuss – it’s relatively one-sided,” Hamilton’s former team-mate said.