George Russell showed true sportsmanship after being the first to congratulate Lewis Hamilton on his victory at the British Grand Prix.
Russell’s own British Grand Prix ended in bitter disappointment as he was forced to retire on lap 34, having started in pole position. The day belonged to another British driver, however, with seven-time world champion Hamilton finally winning a race after 945 gloomy days without victory.
Hamilton, who claimed his 104th career victory, shed tears while he sat in his cockpit after parking up in parc ferme. And Russell showed huge respect for his team-mate by putting his own disappointment to one side.
He recognised the significance of the moment for his childhood hero Hamilton, going over to shake the 39-year-old’s hand and tapping his helmet. Hamilton had managed to extend his own record at Silverstone to nine wins, having masterfully navigated the difficult changing conditions at his home Grand Prix.
The moment of heart-warming sportsmanship came despite some tension between the two earlier in the season – which is Hamilton’s last with Mercedes. In May, following a tough Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton suggested that the team favoured the younger Mercedes star, stating he didn’t expect to out-qualify Russell for the rest of the season.
The veteran even missed out on a front wing upgrade, which he passed up to Russell as there was only one available at the time.
Russell responded by saying: “I think that was probably comments in the heat of the moment,” before adding: “because he knows full well that we get the same treatment.
“Lewis is a winner, and of course these years have been frustrating for all of us, but especially for him. He’s been used to winning every single season he competes in, and hasn’t won in three years. So as I said, it’s frustrating for him, it’s frustrating for all of us, but I’m sure he didn’t mean it as it came across.”
That was all put to bed on Sunday. Hamilton’s perfectly-timed pit-stops and a decision to return to the slick tyres a lap earlier than McLaren’s Lando Norris saw him decisively reclaim the lead at Silverstone.
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