George Russell and Fernando Alonso met by chance at a cafeteria after the controversial incident at the Australian GP. The incident caused a lot of controversy and resulted in a penalty for Russell for his potentially dangerous driving that led Alonso to crash on the last lap. Many people criticized the FIA for the penalty, considering it a racing incident. During the press conference, Russell was asked about the whole situation.
Russell was asked about his relationship with Alonso after the incident at the Australian GP. He stated that they had a deep respect for each other and there was no personal resentment. He also mentioned that they had a casual encounter at a cafeteria. While Russell was giving his response, Max Verstappen decided to intervene.
Verstappen made a humorous comment in response to Russell’s answer. He joked by asking Russell if he had tested Alonso’s brakes at the cafeteria. Russell simply laughed at the comment. He had previously praised the FIA for penalizing Alonso.
Russell stated that they did not discuss the incident at the cafeteria. He did not reveal the details of their conversation when they crossed paths. It would be a difficult discussion considering their divergent opinions on the incident.
Furthermore, Russell mentioned that Alonso did not bring him a cup of coffee. He joked saying that bringing coffee to him was the least the veteran could have done. However, both drivers are looking to move forward with the issue, whether they discussed it or not.
Russell’s accident added to Mercedes’ problems during the Australian GP weekend. The team will be working hard to solve the issues and make a comeback. The problems with the ground effect era are also evident in the 2024 season for the German manufacturer. As a result, the team will be focused on addressing these issues throughout the season to achieve a better result in the championship.