Sainz appears to have forgiven Russell after apology

Carlos Sainz started from pole position, but had to retire after just one lap as he was hit hard by George Russell at the first corner. The British Mercedes driver has since apologised to the Spaniard and they seem to have been accepted.

It was a chaotic start for Sainz. The Ferrari driver had the best starting position, but did not get away as well as Max Verstappen who started right behind him. At the first corner, Sainz was battling with the Dutchman when suddenly Russell made a big error of judgement and hit the Spaniard on his side. For Sainz, the race was immediately over as a water leak had been caused. Russell received a five-second penalty.

Sainz and Russell make up

Sainz was logically unhappy with Russell's action after the race. The Spaniard wondered how drivers in the top four of the field could make such mistakes. Sainz wisely kept his mouth shut about the "only" five-second penalty Russell received for eliminating the pole-running Ferrari driver. However, a video posted by F1 on Twitter shows Russell going into Ferrari's motorhome afterwards to apologise.

The video reads, "Apology accepted... George dropped by to say sorry to Carlos after the race." From the accompanying text and the handshake between Russell and a Ferrari employee, it appears that Russell's mistake has been forgiven. However, Russell did manage to extend his lead over his Spanish rival by 11 points with his P5 finish and fastest lap. Lewis Hamilton s P2 means the Briton is now only four points behind the pointless Sainz in America.