F1 FANS have slammed George Russell after his “shameless” request to Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton during the race.
The 25-year-old Brit requested that he could pass team-mate Lewis Hamilton after he incurred a five-second penalty for a dangerous re-entry.
Russell got into trouble after rainfall from lap 51 onwards caused chaos for a number of drivers.
The Brit had been on course for a podium finish but saw himself drop down the positions to fifth after running off track at the Mirabeau corner.
He then compounded his mistake when Red Bull’s Sergio Perez struck his Mercedes’ when he re-entered the track.
That collision ensured Russell incurred a five second penalty, which was the beginning of the controversy between him and Hamilton.
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With Russell in fifth and Hamilton in fourth, Russell was heard on team radio requesting that he overtake his team-mate so he could better protect his five second lead on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in sixth.
Russell did promise, however, that he would not build a lead of over five seconds on Hamilton.
That meant that Hamilton would technically still have been in fourth position despite his car being behind Russell.
That didn’t stop fans raging about the request with many saying it reflected that Russell was “not a team player”.
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One fan raged: “George Russell is not a team player. Makes it sound like it’s for the team but it’s purely self-served. Hope Mercedes chuck him next season!”
Another said: “George Russell is a shameless t*** for asking team orders after bottling the position!”
While another added: “George Russell, you almost have to respect the audacity to ask if you can get past Lewis to create a gap for your own 5 second time penalty.”
Russell did not receive permission from Mercedes to complete the manoeuvre.
He did manage to comfortably hold on to his fifth place finish however, with Leclerc unable to chase down the Englishman.
Hamilton managed to hold on to fourth with Apline’s Esteban Ocon coming third, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso secured second, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen comfortably holding on to his pole position throughout the race.
Verstappen’s victory was his latest as part of a fine season, with the Dutchman sitting top of the drivers’ standings on 144 points.
His team-mate Sergio Perez sits on 104 points in second, with veteran Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso rolling back the years to sit in third.
Hamilton and Russell’s positions are a carbon copy of where they finished at Monaco, sitting in fourth and fifth respectively.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
