George Russell wasn’t too happy with rival Fernando Alonso after crashing out on the final lap of the Australian Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz claimed a remarkable victory Down Under on Sunday but the race finished under the virtual safety car after Russell was involved in a huge shunt.
On fresher tyres, the Mercedes star was hunting down Alonso for sixth place when all of sudden he appeared to lose all grid and slid off the track, smashing into the barrier and ending up on his side in the path of oncoming cars.
Thankfully, the Brit wasn’t hurt and jumped out of his machine all ok, but Mercedes were left furious with Alonso, with suggestions that the Aston Martin had brake-tested Russell and caused the crash.
The matter has been referred to the stewards.
Spekaing immediately after the chequered flag, Russell was hesitant to accuse his rival of dirty driving, but clearly wasn’t impressed with what had gone down, telling Sky Sports: ‘My take is I’ve gone off and that’s on me.
‘I was half a second behind Fernando 100 metres before the corner then suddenly he came towards me extremely quick and I was right on his gearbox. I don’t know if he had a problem or not.
‘He’s off to the stewards and that’s a bit bizarre in a circumstance like this. I’ve got nothing more to say right now. I need to see everything, just disappointed to end the race like that.
‘It’s clear he braked 100m before the corner and was back on the throttle again and took the corner normally. We’ve already seen the data of that.’
Pressed if he thought Alonso had brake tested him, the 26-year-old replied: ‘I’m not going to accuse him of anything until we see further. I was right behind him for many, many laps. I was half a second behind him before the corner.
‘Then, suddenly he slowed up dramatically and got back on the power. I wasn’t expecting it and he caught me by surprise. That part is on me.
‘It’s interesting he’s been called by the stewards. I’m intrigued as to what they have to say.’
Alonso meanwhile, who has been tipped to join Russell at Mercedes next season, felt he was completely innocent, saying: ‘Obviously I was focusing in front of me and not behind.
‘I had some issues for the last 15 laps or something on the battery, on the deployment, so definitely I was struggling a little bit at the end of the race but I cannot focus on the car behind.
‘But he’s ok, apparently. I saw the car and I was very worried.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE : Lewis Hamilton: Susie Wolff’s stand vital if we want to regain trust in F1
MORE : Oliver Bearman could race at Australian Grand Prix with Carlos Sainz ‘not 100% fit’
MORE : Susie Wolff files criminal complaint against FIA over conflict of interest investigation
