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GEORGE RUSSELL says ‘mistakes’ by race chiefs robbed Lewis Hamilton of last season’s Formula One title.Russell, who has just become Hamilton’s new team-mate at Mercedes, aired his views at the launch of the team’s new W13 car.
Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton (left) and George Russell flank team chief Toto Wolff at the launch of their new W13 carCredit: AFP
Hamilton was on course to win a record eighth Drivers’ championship crown before being denied by a controversial call in the season finale race in Abu Dhabi in December.
A complicated and disputed decision by recently sacked race director Michael Masi allowed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to pip Hamilton on the final lap and claim the title.
The FIA’s new set-up means a team of race directors will now be supported by video referees when it comes to making mid-race decisions.
But that will be little comfort to Hamilton – and Russell has sympathy for his new team-mate.
Former Williams star Russell, 24, said: “He had that race completely under control.
“He only had to bring it home and he would have been an eight-time champion and he had that taken away from him.”
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He added: “Mistakes happen when the heat of the moment is on and people’s emotions are high.
“In sport, there is always a huge amount of pressure on every individual, whether it be the athlete, the coach, the manager, the engineers, the referee or the race director.
“We’ve all come to the agreement that what happened in Abu Dhabi was incorrect and the changes have been made because of the outcome of Abu Dhabi.” More

LEWIS HAMILTON has passed on invaluable advice to Mercedes’ stars of the future.The seven-time world champion fielded questions from junior drivers as the Silver Arrows unveiled their new W13 car at Silverstone on Friday.
Lewis Hamilton took questions from junior driversCredit: YouTube: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Alex Powell quizzed the seven-time champCredit: Twitter @F1
Hamilton, 37, was asked by 14-year-old Alex Powell about how to inspire budding karters in other parts of the world.
Powell said: “I come from the Caribbean and that’s where I started my go-karting career.
“In my limited capacity I try to encourage other karters from the Caribbean to achieve whatever their goal is.
“But with your experience as a seven-time world champion, what advice would you give to them?”
Hamilton replied: “I think firstly, I commend you on that, and I think it’s really just about believing in yourself.
“If you have a goal, if you have an ambition, it’s never losing sight of that and staying focused.
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“Each and every one of you has a unique ability and I can see already the drive in all of your eye, which really connects us because we’ve all had that since very young.
“And I think really just, as I said, just never give up on your dream, never give up on your goal.
“It takes hard work and dedication so, you know, focus and give it absolutely everything.
“And naturally, I think the most important thing is education. Make sure you work hard at school – because that is the foundation to enable us to do what we do in the cars we have today.”
I never, ever said that I was going to stopLewis Hamilton
Hamilton also lifted the lid on retirement rumours that surrounded him during the off-season.
The Brit said: “I never, ever said that I was going to stop. I love doing what I do, and it is such a privilege working with this large group of people.
“You really feel like you’re part of a team and part of a family, working towards that common goal. There’s no feeling quite like it.
“But yeah… it was obviously a difficult time for me, and it was a time where I really needed to take a step back and focus on being present. I had my family all around me, and creating great moments.
“And I eventually got to a point where I decided I was going to be attacking coming into another season, and working with Toto [Wolff] and George [Russell].
“It’s exciting seeing George come in and bringing his energy. I can already feel that throughout the team. I think it’s going to be an exciting season.”
Hamilton, 37, is gearing up for the new season alongside George RussellCredit: PA More

MAX VERSTAPPEN’S F1 world title win should NOT be overturned, insists Karun Chandhok.The FIA’s decision to axe Michael Masi as race director effectively admits that the Aussie made a costly error that cost Lewis Hamilton the title.
Lewis Hamilton sportingly applauds as Max Verstappen celebrates victory in Abu DhabiCredit: Reuters
Karun Chandhok doesn’t believe that the result can be overturnedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But analyst and former F1 driver Karun Chandhok believes that ‘too many variables’ were at play to justify handing Verstappen’s championship over to Hamilton.
He told Sky Sports: “I don’t believe the result should be overturned,.
“I think there are too many variables involved in that process just to clearly say ‘if the lapped cars had been left there, Lewis would have 100 per cent won’.
“I don’t think you can definitively say that. Even Mercedes would definitively not be able to say that. So I don’t think the result can be overturned.”
The issue stemmed from Masi’s call to allow Verstappen to unlap himself behind the safety car – leaving Hamilton a sitting duck on old tyres.
New FIA chief Mohammed Ben Sulayem has since announced structural changes that include a virtual race control room being deployed as part of a ‘new race management team’ that replaces Masi’s old role.
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Speaking at today’s Mercedes car launch, team principal Toto Wolff appeared pleased with the outcome.
The Austrian, who was left incensed by Masi in Abu Dhabi, said: “I think it’s very encouraging to see that action has been taken. There is a much-more robust structure now.
“The FIA has stated that there will be a virtual Race Control Room with state of the art technology.
“And the new guys are going to be in place for the Barcelona test and I think the right steps. It is a new era for the sport.”
I never, ever said that I was going to stopLewis Hamilton
At the launch, Hamilton finally broke his silence on retirement rumours, insisting that he is excited ahead of the new season.
He said: “I never, ever said that I was going to stop. I love doing what I do, and it is such a privilege working with this large group of people.
“You really feel like you’re part of a team and part of a family, working towards that common goal. There’s no feeling quite like it.
“But yeah… it was obviously a difficult time for me, and it was a time where I really needed to take a step back and focus on being present. I had my family all around me, and creating great moments.
“And I eventually got to a point where I decided I was going to be attacking coming into another season, and working with Toto and George [Russell].
Lewis Hamilton is excited for a new season alongside George RussellCredit: PA
Toto Wolff spoke at Mercedes’ new car launchCredit: YouTube: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team More

MERCEDES unveiled their new car for the 2022 season – and fans could not get enough of it.The reigning constructors’ champions will once again take to the grid in their traditional silver livery after dropping their previous black paint job.
Mercedes unveiled their W13 car for the 2022 seasonCredit: Daimler AG
Merc introduced the special edition look back in 2020 as a sign of the team’s commitment to fighting racism and discrimination.
But the team will switch back to its ‘Silver Arrows’ moniker for the W13 as F1 introduces drastic new design regulations for the new season.
Fans online cooed over the fresh look as the team gathered at Silverstone for the official launch.
User Jo wrote on Twitter: “I love her! Loved the black but…our Silver Arrow is back! Best looking car no question… #W13 well done Team she’s a beauty!”
Kevin Ticehurst wrote: “A truly beautiful machine. Loving the new livery. Now onwards to a 9th successive constructors’ championship and an 8th world championship for Lewis, or possibly a first world title for George!!!”
Kelvin Martin wrote: “It’s a stunner! Well done to the entire team that put in hours and hours of effort to produce this magnificent looking car.”
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And RobLMeyers added: “Hope she’s as fast as she is beautiful!”
Seven-time champ Lewis Hamilton ended months of retirement speculation by confirming he would return to the grid this year.
Fans had feared he was planning to hang up his race suit after the shocking season finale that saw him robbed of a record eighth drivers’ crown last term.
But the 37-year-old revealed he is ‘excited’ to drive his new motor after the team’s ‘incredible hard work’ during the off-season. More

MERCEDES chief Toto Wolff has hailed FIA changes after Michael Masi was sacked as race director yesterday.Masi, 44, was relieved of his duties after his December blunder in Abu Dhabi cost Lewis Hamilton a record eighth championship.
Toto Wolff was speaking alongside Lewis Hamilton and George RussellCredit: YouTube: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Michael Masi was relieved of his duties yesterdayCredit: Getty
Speaking at today’s new car launch at Silverstone, Merc chief Wolff cut a relaxed figure as he had his say on the ‘more robust structure’ – which has been liked to VAR in football – that will now be in place.
He said: “I think it’s very encouraging to see that action has been taken. There is a much-more robust structure now.
“The FIA has stated that there will be a virtual Race Control Room with state of the art technology.
“And the new guys are going to be in place for the Barcelona test and I think the right steps. It is a new era for the sport.”
On his team’s ambitions for this year, Wolff stressed that nothing can be taken for granted.
The 50-year-old added: “The mindset of the team has always been the same over the last few years and that is the point count goes back to zero.
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Hamilton and Russell were shown their new car for the 2022 seasonCredit: Daimler AG
“There is nothing from the previous years that will make you win the current championship, no credits to be taken, but also no sense of entitlement.
“Like every year we are sceptical whether we’ve done a good enough job. And and that’s the right the right mentality.”
Meanwhile, at the launch, Hamilton finally addressed the retirement rumours that surrounded him for much of the last two months.
The seven-time world champion, 37, said: “I never, ever said that I was going to stop. I love doing what I do, and it is such a privilege working with this large group of people.
It was obviously a difficult time for me, and it was a time where I really needed to take a step back and focus on being presentLewis Hamilton
“You really feel like you’re part of a team and part of a family, working towards that common goal. There’s no feeling quite like it.
“But yeah…it was obviously a difficult time for me, and it was a time where I really needed to take a step back and focus on being present. I had my family all around me, and creating great moments.
“And I eventually got to a point where I decided I was going to be attacking coming into another season, and working with Toto and George [Russell].
“It’s exciting seeing George come in and bringing his energy. I can already feel that throughout the team. I think it’s going to be an exciting season.”
Mercedes’ W13 car features a return to silver, as well as a new chassis and body work.
It feels incredible, both Lewis and I have driven so many laps in the simulator in thisGeorge Russell
On his new motor, Hamilton said: “It takes you back to being a kid. We’ve never seen such a drastic change as this era of cars, but the team have come together to create hopefully a masterpiece.
“We have no idea how it is going to handle, but he have driven so many laps on the simulator.”
Russell, 24, then added: “It feels incredible, both Lewis and I have driven so many laps in the simulator in this.
“Seeing all the hard work come together here, it looks incredible.”
Mercedes revealed the new W13Credit: Daimler AG
The new car features ‘drastic changes’Credit: Daimler AG More