Alex Albon purchased a George Russell dinner as a peace offering following a hot on-track collision at the F1 Monaco Grand Prix.
With Formula 1 implementing a new forced two-stop strategy in Monaco, some teams relied on controversial manipulation tactics to try to minimize the need to visit the pit for the second time.
In a ultimately successful bid to claim a double point finish, Williams ordered Carlos Sainz and Albon to retreat to create a large enough gap so that either driver hasn’t lost his truck’s position at the second stop.
This proved particularly frustrating for Russell. Russell was stuck behind many races at Williams in Albon, complaining that Anglo-Tai was driving “irregularly” to hold the track’s position.
Russell, despite knowing that he would be wary of a penalty, ended up deliberately cutting Shikane to pass Albon.
Albon and Sainz came in 9th and 10th place, while Russell missed points in 11th place.
“I’m having dinner with him tonight, so he’ll definitely get the bill,” Russell later declared.
Explaining Williams’ tactics, Albon said:
“We didn’t want it to happen. I don’t think it was the way we went to race. Once the RB started it, it was basically in a position where we had to do it too.
“It bundled the field very tightly. The only way to get out of that situation was basically to repeat what they did. It was clean and not frustrating, but it was ultimately a team sport and maximized the three points of the team.”
Alex Albon lifted up a pair of Mercedes
Russell and Albon placed their truck duel behind them by spending their dinner day on Sunday evening.
Albon revealed that he paid the bill in a social media post. There, we shared photos of the pair smiling together.
“What are you welcome to George Russell,” Albon simply captioned the post.
Williams boss apologizes to Mercedes
James Bowles, principal of the Williams team, texted Mercedes’ counterpart Totowolf, a mid-race, who apologized for the team’s tactics.
Wolff revealed the Vowles text: “Sorry. Considering what happened first, there was no choice. Wolff replied, “We know.”
“You know, James is one of my peers and I don’t want to sound adored because he’s a career as principal on the team and he’s doing really well,” Wolf added.
“He had to do it, you know, he has two cars in the point.
