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Russell hopes Verstappen “learned the risk” in wheel-to-wheel battles

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The Mercedes driver enjoyed a stronger development in Saturday’s sprint race, entering Turn 1 in Baku from the inside of fourth-placed Verstappen, and the pair continued side by side until the corner of Turn 3. Exit on a left bend.

During their encounter, Russell and Verstappen collided at the apex of Turn 2, tearing a gash in the Red Bull’s left-hand box before the Dutchman backed away to avoid the wall.

That prompted defending champion Verstappen, who eventually reclaimed the sprint podium, to protest Russell at the parc ferme and call him a “fool”.

Russell said he thought Verstappen came over to praise the pair for their good fight, and that the Red Bull driver had plenty of time to wait before passing late in the race.

He said: “When he first came over, I thought he was going to say, ‘Well played, well played’. I was surprised that he was so angry.

“His position has been lost in my opinion, since I started karting at the age of eight, if you’re on the inside of the apex of the corner, that’s your corner.

“If drivers try to resist outside, they are taking a huge risk.

“On the first lap on the street circuit, I was really shocked that he was able to hold the position.

“But again, I’m here to fight, I’m here to win and I’m not going to wave him over just because he’s Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing.”

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19, fighting George Russell, Mercedes F1 W14 ahead of Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19, fighting George Russell, Mercedes F1 W14 ahead of Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23

Photography: Simon Galloway/ motorsport pictures

Russell also told Sky Sports F1 that if the roles were reversed, leaving him on the outside for the opening sequence of the corner, he would step back to Verstappen. As a result of the impact, he hopes Verstappen has learned his lesson for future rolls of the dice.

“From my side, everything is going on,” he said. “If the roles were reversed, I’m sure he would do the same. It’s part of racing.

“We’re going to keep going, we’re the big boys, it’s Formula 1.

“On the first lap on the street circuit, I wouldn’t try to put it on the outside. The driver on the inside has already got the inside and the corner has been lost.

“As drivers we always say, if you want to overtake on the outside, you know the risk. Hopefully he learned the risk today.”

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Russell continued to Sky: “He’s got a lot of Fs around him and stuff like that…

“He lost a lot more than I did. He could have waited a lap and passed me directly at their speed.

“I was ahead of him at the apex (Turn 1), very clean and smooth. It’s interesting how it lasts for three corners.”

Additional reporting by Adam Cooper

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Alonso wants to fight for title: 'I don't get obsessed with it'

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Fernando Alonso came very close to his first race win since Barcelona 2012. The Spaniard trailed Max Verstappen, who left the Aston Martin driver behind with a masterclass finish. It was more flavorful for Alonso, he told a news conference.

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Alpine must ‘keep feet on the ground’ after Monaco F1 podium

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Ocon qualified fourth in the Principality, 0.188 seconds behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen. He then inherited a spot when Charles Leclerc was penalized for blocking Lando Norris.

In the race, 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix winner Ocon took on Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton on the final stage in the rain, earning his first podium of the season in the upgraded A523. Teammate Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, was seventh.

The headlines came after Alpine chief executive Laurent Rossi gave French media interviews over the weekend in Miami, at times labeling his team “amateurs”.

The team’s best finish was eighth before Monaco, while Ocon and Gasly eliminated each other in the final moments in Australia, unable to earn a double. Throughout the weekend in Monaco, Ocon was reluctant to respond positively to Rossi’s remarks.

Asked again for his response after finishing third, he said: “Everyone is happy. Formula 1 is unpredictable. You don’t know what’s going to happen.

“With how tight the field is at the moment, a little more pace can completely change your weekend. It was a great weekend, awesome preparation.

“As I’ve always said, we’ve been working hard. We’re not going to stop believing. Hopefully this is the first podium of many.”

Esteban Ocon of the Alpine F1 Team celebrates his third position with Pierre Gasly, the Alpine F1 Team, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi and the team

Esteban Ocon of the Alpine F1 Team celebrates his third position with Pierre Gasly, the Alpine F1 Team, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi and the team

Photography: Alpine

Such a high score is based on Alpine’s introduction of a revised suspension configuration, tweaked floor design and new sidepod air intakes for the Monaco weekend.

Asked whether the upgrades marked a turning point for the year, Ocon said the team had to be careful to “get its feet on the ground” and wait to see what it was like at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

He said: “It’s a very different track in terms of character here. But obviously the car feels more alive and I feel more confident in it to start the weekend.

“We did bring some updates. They should be small, but everything we have is going in the right direction. It definitely feels good and I hope this is the start of something.

“We need to keep our feet on the ground and see where we are next week. It will be a good test.”

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Alonso wanted P1: 'Great to fight for the title like this'

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Fernando Alonso came very close to his first race win since Barcelona 2012. The Spaniard trailed Max Verstappen, who left the Aston Martin driver behind with a masterclass finish. It was more flavorful for Alonso, he told a news conference.

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