4. Tension at Mercedes F1
This proved an uncomfortable race for Mercedes. Hamilton out-qualified Russell, with the black cars starting just seventh and eighth, but the seven-time champion was compromised at the start after incurring some damage after contact with Sergio Perez on the way into the Turn 1 funnel. He just about stayed ahead of his team-mate, but Russell was soon pressing him, Hamilton running them both out wide at Spoon. It didn’t look good. That moment clearly caused some concern on the pit wall and it was decided to split the pair on strategy, Russell taking on a demanding one-stop route which was always likely to hurt him in the closing stages given the high degree of tyre degradation at Suzuka. And so it proved.
After the second round of stops, Russell briefly cycled through to the front but didn’t even attempt to fight Verstappen who quickly reclaimed his lead. Russell then found himself powerless to stop both McLarens sweeping past him but then mounted a better defence against Leclerc. The Ferrari ace pulled a brave move on the outside into Turn 1 on lap 45 and just had the momentum out of Turn 2 to edge ahead before he ran out of road.
Now the conventionally two-stopping Hamilton and a charging Sainz loomed large. Hamilton successfully lobbied for George to allow him to pass, but Russell was unhappy about that call, knowing how it would compromise him. He’d wanted to remain ahead until the last lap, allowing Hamilton to use the DRS tow to defend against Sainz for the benefit of both – as Sainz and Norris had managed against the Mercs in Singapore (Sainz noted the tactic on the radio). But by allowing Hamilton to pass Russell quickly, Mercedes left the younger man without much defence against the Ferrari.
Hamilton was ordered to hang back to gift Russell a DRS tow and did so, but if made little difference as Sainz easily drove past the second Mercedes on the run to Turn 1. Now he focused on Hamilton who was feeling vulnerable and generally nettled by the events of a difficult day. Still, Lewis remained just out of reach as the black cars delivered just about all their team could expect on current form. But don’t be surprised if there’s an element of a hardening frost between the teammates right now.