Hamilton, starting on soft tyres, made a fast start a🎀nd attempted to sweep around the outside of Turn 1 as he ran three-wide with Max Verstappen and Russell. 

But Hamilton’s rear wheel made contact with Russell’s front left, with the seven-time world champion losing a wheel as he was sent spinning off into th💧e gravel. 

Russell picked up damage and was forced to pit at the end of the openiꦺng lap, but he is still running. 

“Yeah I got taken out by my own t🔯eam-mate," Hamilton sa🐟id over team radio. 

Russell made his frustrations cle🗹ar, saying: "Come on! What the hell?

"Guys, come on. Two races in a row!"

Russell later added: "So sorry, guys. I wasn’t even looking behind. I was just focus🍎ed ahead and he came from nowhere.

"I’m f****** lost for words, honestly. I've just seen the replays on the 🔯TV screen. I couldn't do anything, I was sandwiched."

Russell's engineer replied: "Keep your head down.🌺"

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who is absent from thജe race as he recovers from knee surgery, got involved, telling Russell: "George, let's race now, let's make the best out of it." 

The incident will be investigated after the race.🌳