Russell: Grosjean deserved punishment for clash

Williams Formula 1 driver George Russell reckons Romain Grosjean got off lightly from their collision during the Singapore Grand Prix, an incident which ended his race.

Grosjean tagged the back of Russell’s FW42 as the pair battled over 17th place at the exit of Turn 8 on Lap 35, sending the Briton into the outside wall and ending Williams’ remarkable streak without a DNF this year.

Haas driver Grosjean was able to continue and ultimately finished 11th, something which frustrated Russell, who felt the Frenchman should have been punished.

"He said that I didn’t leave him any room, but I’ve see the video and I clearly did,” Russell explained.

“He said sorry but not exactly admitting it was his fault. He’s obviously not going to say it was his fault.

“But it was my corner, I had the inside line at the apex and on the exit so it was his to give up, and he didn’t.

“He had his right to lunge it down the outside, at the apex we were next to each other, just after the apex I was half a car’s length ahead,” he added.

“The fact my rear left touched his front right proves that it was my corner, he should have conceded the corner.

“I don’t know what he was thinking, but it’s not the first time something’s happened like that with Romain.”

Asked if the incident will change how he approaches racing Grosjean in future, Russell replied: “Ultimately his actions ended my race but they should have ended his race as well.

“I don’t think I’d be doing anything different. It was in his hands to realise it… wasn’t malicious, just common racing sense.”

Grosjean believes the incident has highlighted a “grey area” within F1’s rules and insisted he had little room to go in order to avoid a collision.

“It’s a bit of a grey area the rules, who has got the priority,” he said.

“We have seen a lot of people going wide and gaining an advantage of going wide.

“Obviously, I’m for gravel on exit of corners, maybe it would change mentality and we would have to leave more space because that is what I have been saying for a long time.

“If there is a wall, you cannot disappear and obviously there is contact. I don’t think there was much room for me to go more to the left, obviously there is a wall there.

“I just need to see the footage. I think he had a moment mid-corner, with his rear, touched my front and sent him the other way round. I think it’s a bit unfortunate, and obviously George is not super happy, but there’s not much more room I can go to the left.”

Both drivers were called before the stewards but no further action was taken.