Russell calls out Leclerc for 'questionable defending' in British GP
George Russell criticized rival Charles Leclerc for resorting to "questionable defending" during the pair's scrap in the British Grand Prix.
Russell spent the first 18 laps of his race hot on the heels of Leclerc's Ferrari. The two men's tussle was broken up when the latter opted to pit while the Mercedes driver chose to extend his run on the soft tyre to lap 28 when he switched to mediums.
Russell rejoined just behind Leclerc, locking himself once again in a close battle with the Monegasque. The fight was short-lived however, with the Mercedes charger quickly gaining the upper hand over his rival and powering on to finish fifth.
"I felt good on those tyres, and that was 28 laps within one second of a car ahead," he said.
"I think I could have extended even further had it been clear air. I felt really good on that on that tyre, it felt really good on our car.
But Russell was unimpressed with Leclerc' defensive tactics during his opening stint.
"I did my best to overtake Charles, some questionable defending at points. But it wouldn't have changed my race. Had I got past him, it probably would have meant I would have boxed even earlier.
"Probably both the McLarens would have pitted to cover me. So I still probably would have finished fifth."
Asked to elaborate on his battle with Leclerc, Russell said the Ferrari driver had changed lines one time too many as they entered Silverstone's Turn 16.
"It was just about braking into Turn 16," he said. "I was about to lunge him down inside and right at the braking zone he came across pretty aggressively.
"That's clearly not allowed in the rules. I think they gave him a slap on the wrist. But you know when you got one overtaking opportunity and [he gets] sort of a warning for it, it's a bit frustrating."
While unhappy with Leclerc's behaviour, Russell said that he had no intention of mentioning the issue in the next drivers' briefing.
"I don't think I need to," he noted. "It was very borderline. I need to look at a video again.
"It felt on the limit from within the car, or maybe just over the limit. I've not seen a replay. I'm not too concerned about it right now."
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