F1: Russell apologizes for teammate’s poor performance

George Russell was able to capture fourth place at Imola Sunday after a storming start got him up to sixth, which later turned into fourth as he overtook Kevin Magnussen and gained a place when Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc spun.

Russell out qualified teammate Lewis Hamilton by four tenths, beat him easily in the sprint race and finished 10 positions ahead of him in the grand prix. But he said believes Hamilton will come back fighting.

“It’s just how things fall out in a race sometimes in a race weekend,” he said. “I made a very strong start, I don’t know what happened to him at the start.

“But we’re equally struggling and when the car is so far out of bed and not in the right window, it doesn’t really feel like a proper racing car to drive. Especially when you’re struggling with tire warm up, like on Friday at 30C [track temperature], and it’s just a nightmare to drive.

“I expect him to come back so strong. The way he’s pushing and motivating the team is inspiring, I’m not getting comfortable in this position because I know what he’s capable of.”