After Lewis Hamilton’s team order at the Japanese Grand Prix, George Russell laments the “disaster.”.

Mercedes instructed the younger British driver to allow his team-mate to pass in the closing laps of the Suzuka race, and Hamilton finished the Japanese Grand Prix in fifth, two positions ahead of Russell.

Lewis Hamilton was allowed to pass after George Russell admitted his Japanese Grand Prix strategy had failed and gave the go-ahead, but he was left to lament yet another “disaster”.

For the Suzuka race, Russell had experimented with a risky one-stop strategy.
On a track that is known for gnawing through tyres, everyone else, perhaps sensibly, was betting on at least two trips to the pit lane.

And the British man’s experience wasn’t particularly successful. He had very worn tires and was running fifth on the road in the closing laps, closely followed by Carlos Sainz and Hamilton.

Mercedes instructed Russell to allow his teammate through because they were concerned Sainz might be able to slip past both.
Despite his radio rants, he eventually followed the order.

Sainz passed him almost immediately after, but the Spaniard was unable to overtake the seven-time world champion.
Russell came in seventh, while Hamilton came in fifth.

Russell later acknowledged that, although his initial response had been one of frustration, it had likely been the right one.
Regarding that daring tyre strategy wager, he concluded, “It was definitely worth a shot.”.

“The three-stop was quicker or closer than the one-stop.
However, if there was a safety car or a red flag, the one-stop gave us a chance to be in P3.
Even though the outcome was a fair representation, we did have a chance in the end.

“That radio is a tool to relieve frustration when you’re in the car, 48 laps in, putting everything into trying to make a suboptimal strategy work.
It was challenging to pass other drivers.
Although [Oscar] Piastri had much fresher tires, he took two laps to do so and barely succeeded.
In hindsight, it’s simple. “.

Sergio Perez’s failure to record a point at Suzuka has reduced Hamilton’s drivers championship deficit to just 33 points.
Lando Norris’ third podium finish for McLaren has dropped Russell to joint-seventh, level on points with him.

“My current objective is to secure P2 for the team in the constructors,” he continued.
It’s been a season to forget for me personally; the drivers’ is out the window.
Such a waste of opportunities.
“.