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George Russell was an interested observer of the Ferrari drivers’ tactics as they fought for position during the Chinese Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver spent many laps stuck behind Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as they fought over second place in the second half of the race. Russell pointed out Leclerc intentionally slowed down his team mate at points, tactics which Hamilton emulated when he got ahead.

The three cars first met on track early in the race. However Russell had little difficulty passing the Ferrari drivers to begin with when they started on the medium tyre compound:

Lap: 2/56 RUS: 1’38.125, LEC: 1’39.148, HAM: 1’38.587
Dudley Overtake enabled. Careful debris exit turn three. Bozzi Overtake enabled. Santi Overtake is enabled
Dudley Ahead of Leclerc 0.5. Antonelli has overtake behind you.
Lap: 3/56 RUS: 1’37.093, LEC: 1’37.835, HAM: 1’38.234
Dudley Leclerc will have overtake here.
Russell drives past Leclerc on the pit straight		 Bozzi Russell 0.1 You have the overtake, you have the overtake.
Dudley Diff entry, diff high speed available. Leclerc [Unclear] it doesn’t feel so good, what’s going on? Hamilton does not activate Straight Mode approaching turn 14
Russell has overtake behind you.
Russell passes Hamilton on the pit straight
Dudley Gap ahead of Lewis is 0.9.
Lap: 4/56 RUS: 1’37.462, LEC: 1’37.863, HAM: 1’37.636
Dudley Lewis will have overtake.
Russell drives past Hamilton on the pit straight		 Bozzi And we need more tyre saving turn seven. Avoid left toggle too many times for engine braking limit. You have the overtake.
Russell Gap ahead? Approaching turn 11
And reminder SM [Straight Mode] in the back straight, SM in back straight.
Dudley 0.9. We need more tyre saving in seven please, more tyre saving in seven.
Lap: 5/56 RUS: 1’37.375, LEC: 1’38.136, HAM: 1’37.962
Dudley Gap 1.2. Lewis behind will have overtake. Bozzi Up to you to manage, but turn seven is fast from our numbers. Tyre update when you can.
Dudley Gap 0.7. Leclerc Compared to reference or across cars? Hamilton Tyres are okay, just no battery.
Dudley Now, one second. Bozzi Both sliding overall and across cars. Santi Early braking, early turn-in in turn 16.
Dudley Are you talking in front or behind?
Dudley Ahead, 1.1 behind. Gap was one second behind, Lewis will have overtake.

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Once Russell passed the Mercedes drivers he was able to pull away in an attempt to chase down his team mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Behind him, Leclerc reported it was harder to overtake than it had been in the previous day’s sprint race.

The appearance of the Safety Car thwarted Russell: as all four race-leading drivers pitted, others stayed out, and at the restart he was separated from his team mate by Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman.

Lap: 6/56 RUS: 1’37.383, LEC: 1’37.994, HAM: 1’38.221
Dudley Gap ahead 1.6, behind 1.5. Bozzi Tyre phase update when you can. Hamilton Have I got overtake?
Yes, you have.
Santi Switch position, yellow.
Hamilton Antonelli and Russell pull away
Hard to keep up with these guys.
Santi It’s fine, we understood, keep focus on tyres please
Lap: 7/56 RUS: 1’37.383, LEC: 1’37.994, HAM: 1’38.221
Dudley Some medium runners. Bozzi Antonelli 37.2. Hamilton I have no power across the start line.
Russell Talking over him
[Unclear] okay?		 Santi Understood. No overtake.
Yeah I’ll have a look. Some medium runners complaining of graining Less push inside, but if you can…
Russell Gap 1.5 ahead, 3.4 behind. Turn one at the limit for us now, so we’re happy where we are. Hamilton Interrupts
Car behind?
Behind on overtake!
And no push button, exit 15, is detrimental for power.
Hamilton Okay.
Turn seven was good, keep it as a reference, Charles has overtake behind you.
Lap: 8/56 RUS: 1’37.266, LEC: 1’37.794, HAM: 1’37.929
Bozzi You have overtake.
Leclerc Much more difficult to overtake today, actually.
Bozzi Switch position, yellow.
Bozzi Brake balance plus one, rear locking phase two.
Lap: 9/56 RUS: 1’37.261, LEC: 1’38.130, HAM: 1’38.371
Bozzi Mode FW suggestion. Hamilton Graining starting, left-front.
Leclerc [Unclear] Santi A bit more saving in turn eight. Turn seven was fine. And switch position red.
Bozzi Radio poor. Hamilton What?
Switch position red, earlier braking turn 14, less peak.
Hamilton They’re just pulling away ahead.
Santi Copy. Entry five, mid two, suggestion, entry five, mid two
Lap: 10/56 RUS: 1’52.779, LEC: 1’52.397, HAM: 1’49.946
Dudley Safety Car, Safety Car so box, box. Strat one. Leclerc Yeah [unclear] the same thing. Santi We are on plan A, we are on plan A, Charles overtake behind you.
Russell [Unclear] we just stay close on the delta. Bozzi Switch position red, switch position red. Yellow turn two for now. And box, Charles, box. Santi Flap update when you can.
Dudley Reset diff entry. Leclerc Say to Lewis to stay close to his dash, he is slowing down. Hamilton Err… I mean… Front left is definitely dropping.
Russell I’m in the pits. Safety Car, Safety Car. Box, box.
Dudley Affirm. Hamilton Yeah, going for plus two.
Dudley Just don’t push the Ferrari back.

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Soon after the restart Hamilton and Leclerc repassed Russell, who complained he was having difficulty getting heat into his hard tyres:

Lap: 13/56 RUS: 2’29.280, LEC: 2’26.486, HAM: 2’28.395
Dudley Safety Car in this lap. Bozzi So the restart will be mode K2, turn 14, and use low gears there. Santi Safety Car in this lap. The only place to improve driving-wise is braking 14, less peak, earlier braking. And green one position eight. Reminder for the restart: K2 before 14, low gears, higher revs.
Dudley Just reminder for the restart, it will be strat seven.
After the restart, Hamilton passes Russell at the exit of turn six		 Hamilton I go to K2?
Santi Affirm K2, K2.
The race restarts
Lap: 15/56 RUS: 1’38.910, LEC: 1’37.205, HAM: 1’37.073
Dudley Overtake enabled. Leclerc behind will have overtake.
Leclerc passes Russell approaching turn one		 Bozzi And focus on turn seven and eight, that will help later on. Santi Hamilton closes on Colapinto
Overtake, we have overtake.
Russell We got no fucking grip. Santi Hamilton passes Colapinto
Well done, and now focus on tyres.

Russell remained behind the Ferrari drivers as they passed Bearman and Colapinto.

Lap: 16/56 RUS: 1’37.532, LEC: 1’37.306, HAM: 1’36.931
Dudley So tyres just coming into the [unclear] window now. Bozzi Overtakes Bearman approaching turn 14
Good job, more saving turn seven.		 Santi Hamilton closes on Bearman
And you have overtake.
Bozzi Take care of the tyres. Santi And mode FW and boost on the main straight. We are on plan A, think about your tyres.
Bozzi And you still have overtake.
Lap: 17/56 RUS: 1’36.420, LEC: 1’36.877, HAM: 1’36.697
Dudley Keeping to the left on the straight between 13 and 14. Debris on this straight. Gap ahead of Leclerc, 2.4 seconds. Bozzi Good job seven, keep it up. Santi You have overtake.
Bozzi Debris in front of you, stay left-hand side. Hamilton Got no battery
Santi Debris on the back straight, stay on the left, stay in the left.
Hamilton Need more power, mate.
Santi We are on it.
Santi And use boost on the main straight.
Lap: 18/56 RUS: 1’36.313, LEC: 1’36.599, HAM: 1’37.117
Dudley 2 Leclerc [Unclear] Hamilton Don’t have…
Bozzi No radio, repeat. Santi No overtake.
Leclerc Lap times? Santi And mode race, think about your tyres, watch for turn seven.
Bozzi Antonelli, 36.5, you did a 36.8. Hamilton How’s [unclear] car behind?
Bozzi Diff mid, minus one. Santi Charles one second and a half behind, same pace.
Santi Green one, position one, when you can. Green one position one. A bit more saving in seven, if you can, a bit more saving in seven.

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Hamilton, second, was now under pressure from Leclerc and Russell.

Lap: 19/56 RUS: 1’36.668, LEC: 1’36.861, HAM: 1’37.103
Dudley Gap ahead 1.8 ahead of Leclerc. Bozzi Antonelli 37.1 Hamilton How’s behind?
Bozzi Russell 0.8 with overtake. Santi Charles 1.3, 1.3 Charles.
Hamilton Pace, not gap, pace. Right now my gap behind…
Santi Interrupts
Two tenths slower, two tenths slower than Charles behind.
Hamilton Okay, where?
Santi Entry speed at one, but we want to save the tyres, and early entry in seven for tyres, will be long.
Lap: 20/56 RUS: 1’36.617, LEC: 1’36.833, HAM: 1’36.915
Russell Gap ahead 1.5. Bozzi Antonelli 36.8, that was a good lap except turn 11. Santi Improve apex speed 16, early entry is suggested. Charles 1.5
Bozzi No left toggle, turn 11.
Bozzi Russell 0.6.
Lap: 21/56 RUS: 1’36.663, LEC: 1’36.705, HAM: 1’36.972
Dudley Leclerc doesn’t have overtake. Bozzi This is good, still a long stint, take care of your tyres. Hamilton I’m losing time to the car behind.
Dudley Ahead of Leclerc, 1.1. Santi You are just losing out of 16. And we recommend right toggle for 16, right toggle.
Dudley 1.2.
Lap: 22/56 RUS: 1’36.894, LEC: 1’36.643, HAM: 1’37.006
Dudley Leclerc doesn’t have overtake. Bozzi Brake balance plus one, rear locking increasing. Hamilton Let me know if the gear I’m using is wrong.
Dudley Avoid boost presses for this lap. Santi Copy.
Dudley And no de-rate presses. Gap ahead 0.9. Santi 16 was good and gears are good.
Gap ahead one second and we’re happy to use the buttons on the next lap. Hamilton My dash, the gap it’s showing, is to Hadjar [unclear], let me know.
Santi Understood.
Hamilton Nowhere else I’m losing?

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Leclerc eventually made a move on Hamilton at turn 14, then appeared to try to box his team mate in at the exit of the corner by not accelerating fully, which allowed Russell to close on them both.

Lap: 23/56 RUS: 1’36.561, LEC: 1’36.813, HAM: 1’37.049
Dudley Leclerc will have overtake. Bozzi And you have overtake.
Dudley Gap ahead 0.7.
Lap: 24/56 RUS: 1’37.445, LEC: 1’37.277, HAM: 1’38.223
Dudley Leclerc will have overtake.
Russell Leclerc passes Hamilton at turn 14 and appears to under-accelerate as he exits the corner
What’s Leclerc doing?
Lap: 25/56 RUS: 1’38.063, LEC: 1’37.681, HAM: 1’37.893
Dudley Lewis will have overtake.
Russell Leclerc just backed up Lewis in the train.
Lap: 26/56 RUS: 1’37.187, LEC: 1’37.574, HAM: 1’36.739
Dudley Lewis will have overtake.
Dudley 0.7 ahead.
Russell They’re just fast in all the right places.
No messages for four minutes

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Having closed on the Ferraris, Russell picked off Hamilton on lap 27, then took Leclerc two laps later:

Lap: 28/56 RUS: 1’36.971, LEC: 1’37.076, HAM: 1’37.218
Bozzi Switch position, yellow. Santi You and Russell with overtake. Charles no.
Bozzi Russell 0.7 with overtake. Hamilton I’m shit slow, where am I losing all that pack?
Santi Coming back to you. Exit turn 10. Exit turn 10.
Lap: 29/56 RUS: 1’36.158, LEC: 1’37.107, HAM: 1’36.771
Dudley Boost available, early press. Leclerc will have overtake. Hamilton My apex is still down. [Unclear]
Dudley Gap 0.9.
Russell passes Leclerc approaching turn 14		 Santi Apex speed turn three, apex speed turn 16.
Santi You have overtake.
Lap: 30/56 RUS: 1’36.438, LEC: 1’36.797, HAM: 1’36.685
Dudley Gap one second. Santi You have overtake.
Santi Early entry turn seven for tyres and watch for front locking in turn three.

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Russell took a few laps to shake Leclerc off, leaving the Ferrari drivers to fight between themselves:

Lap: 31/56 RUS: 1’36.207, LEC: 1’36.409, HAM: 1’36.496
Dudley Leclerc will have overtake. Santi And you have overtake.
Dudley Gap behind one second. Hamilton I’m just down on power all the time.
Russell Gap behind? Hamilton Got a lot of understeer.
Dudley 0.9… 0.8… 0.7. Santi Understood. Think about your tyres
Hamilton Do I have overtake?
Santi Overtake available. Charles as well.
Santi Only place to improve, entry one, but think about your tyres there.
Hamilton How much do I need to improve there?
Santi One tenth and a half.
Santi And earlier full throttle, out of 12. Earlier full throttle. Overtake available.
Lap: 32/56 RUS: 1’35.977, LEC: 1’36.624, HAM: 1’36.629
Dudley Leclerc will have overtake, gap 1.1. Bozzi 25 laps to go. Santi Apex speed 16, suggestion higher gear there, try higher gear. Apex speed 16.
Dudley Kimi 36.1. Leclerc Plan C could come into play. Santi 25 laps to go. You have overtake, Charles don’t.
Bozzi Copy that.
Lap: 33/56 RUS: 1’36.107, LEC: 1’36.550, HAM: 1’36.496
Dudley 24 laps remaining. Just feedback on tyres please. Bozzi Switch position yellow, double yellow turn two. Hamilton When I get on the pit straight, I’ve got no power.
Bozzi Track is clear. Slippery track, turn two debris. Santi Understood.
Hamilton Help me understand that please.
Santi Yeah, coming back to you.
Hamilton [Unclear]
Santi And tyre phase update when you can. Switch position yellow, switch position yellow.

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With Russell gone, Hamilton and Leclerc were left to dispute third place. Leclerc’s error at turn 14 handed Hamilton the position, and though they swapped it once more, Hamilton prevailed:

Lap: 34/56 LEC: 1’36.729, HAM: 1’36.752
Bozzi Engine braking plus one. Santi Double yellow, turn two-three. Double yellow. It’s slippery. Slippery.
Leclerc Engine braking? Hamilton I didn’t see a double yellow.
Bozzi Yes, please. Santi Overtake available, was debris.
Santi And earlier full throttle out of 12. Stay with him if you can, you’re doing well.
Lap: 35/56 LEC: 1’38.511, HAM: 1’37.337
Bozzi Hamilton 1.0 with overtake. Santi Overtake available.
Bozzi Slippery track ahead.
No messages for several minutes		 Hamilton I have no power, give me something.
Hamilton [Unclear]. I come out of the last corner I’ve got no power.
Santi Negative, we are looking into that.
Hamilton I don’t…
Santi Exit two, entry three, to improve.
Santi And for power, this is the most efficient we can have at the minute.
Leclerc runs wide at turn 14, Hamilton passes him, then slows early for turn 16
Lap: 38/56 LEC: 1’36.759, HAM: 1’36.876
Santi Pace is good, keep it up.

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Leclerc may have lost the battle, but in one of his relatively few radio messages he said he had enjoyed it:

Lap: 39/56 LEC: 1’36.993, HAM: 1’38.092
Hamilton Got a lot of understeer.
Santi Understood.
Leclerc passes Hamilton into turn 14, Hamilton repasses into turn three
Lap: 41/56 LEC: 1’36.840, HAM: 1’36.471
Leclerc That is actually quite good fun, battle. Santi And Charles has overtake.
Hamilton How many laps?
Santi 15 laps to go when you cross the line.
Lap: 42/56 LEC: 1’36.795, HAM: 1’36.516
Santi No overtake for Charles, no overtake, keep it up.
Santi Keep the gap, if you can, 1.3, you are doing a very good job.
Lap: 43/56 LEC: 1’36.584, HAM: 1’36.218
Santi And we are quicker than Charles everywhere.
Santi And you are opening the gap, good job.
Lap: 44/56 LEC: 1’36.649, HAM: 1’36.240
Santi We have three lapped cars ahead, good job on Charles.

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