George Russell shouldered the blame for a pivotal incident during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, jeopardizing Mercedes’ standing in the Formula One constructors’ championship, edging closer to losing their second place to Ferrari.

The collision between Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on lap 25 resulted in a five-second penalty for Russell, dropping him from a fourth-place finish to eighth, altering the dynamics of the race won by Verstappen. Follow your favourite F1 team with attractive F1 betting odds from Nextbet. 

Reflecting on the mishap, Russell lamented, telling Sky Sports television, “Just another massively missed opportunity this weekend. The incident with Max was totally my fault. I didn’t see him, he was totally in my blind spot going around turn 11.”

Initially poised for a comfortable podium finish, Russell expressed his regret, highlighting the race’s simplicity until the unfortunate event.

Mercedes’ team principal, Toto Wolff, acknowledged the setback, conceding that the penalty sealed their fate for the race but remained hopeful for a resilient comeback in the impending Abu Dhabi finale.

“I think we hopefully can recover and score solid podiums,” Wolff commented optimistically about their prospects in the final race.

On the other hand, Ferrari’s team boss, Fred Vasseur, exuded confidence in their pursuit to close the gap, buoyed by Charles Leclerc’s second-place finish and Carlos Sainz’s sixth-place result in Las Vegas.

Vasseur stated, “We must keep the momentum going into Abu Dhabi – both drivers are doing a fantastic job, and I believe we can catch Mercedes.”

The intense battle in the Constructors’ Championship witnessed Ferrari closing the gap to just four points behind Mercedes, setting the stage for a thrilling culmination in Abu Dhabi. Get the latest updates from the world of F1 only on Nextbet Sports.