“Lewis always wanted to keep Valtteri, not necessarily because he loved Valtteri but because it was the right balance of the team. He could feel that. That was the same as Max Verstappen [and] Sergio Perez. It came to the surface more than ever before, I think, in the Japanese Grand Prix.”
Hamilton and Russell’s battle was among the highlights in Japan, with the pair both frustrated by the other’s approach. The latter overtook his colleague at the final chicane in the first part of the race, but was passed by Hamilton immediately on the next straight.
They then went wheel-to-wheel, with Hamilton forcing his fellow Briton off the track. Hamilton ultimately finished fifth with Russell in seventh, having been passed by Carlos Sainz in the final moments.
