Anthony Davidson Criticizes Charles Leclerc's Driving After Incident with George Russell
Anthony Davidson expressed relief that George Russell did not face a penalty after a clash with Charles Leclerc during practice at the US Grand Prix. Both drivers were seen as equally at fault for the incident, which was deemed insignificant by the stewards.
Anthony Davidson, the former F1 driver turned pundit, has voiced his approval of the decision not to penalize George Russell after his on-track altercation with Charles Leclerc during the second practice session at the United States Grand Prix. The incident took place on Friday at the Circuit of the Americas, where the two drivers tangled midway through the session, prompting an investigation by the FIA stewards.
Leclerc was the standout performer in both practice sessions, topping the timesheets with Ferrari's upgraded SF-26. He clocked a 1:36.052 in FP1, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen, and followed it with a 1:35.291 in FP2, narrowly beating Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The brief television footage of the incident showed Russell and Leclerc battling for track position around Turn 18. Davidson, upon reviewing extended footage, concluded that neither driver deserved a penalty. He noted that both were equally culpable, engaging in what he termed "nonsense" driving, particularly as it occurred during an installation lap with little at stake.
At the time, Leclerc was on hard C2 compound Pirelli tyres, while Russell was on the medium C3s. As Russell slowed through Turn 17, Leclerc attempted to overtake around the outside. However, Russell covered the line at Turn 18, causing Leclerc to run wide and briefly gain the lead. Yet, Leclerc's subsequent deceleration into Turn 20 allowed Russell another chance to reclaim the position.
Davidson remarked on Sky Sports F1, "Russell and Leclerc were both at fault, and I'm glad the stewards decided not to pursue it further. It was a minor incident blown out of proportion."
Russell eventually finished FP2 fifth fastest, switching to the soft C4 tyres for a qualifying simulation. His best lap of 1:36.035 was notably slower than Leclerc's session-topping time. Russell also had a faster lap of 1:35.793 invalidated for exceeding track limits at Turn 20.
Track limits proved problematic for both drivers, with Russell and Leclerc losing several lap times for similar infringements. Despite these hiccups, Leclerc's pace in practice suggests Ferrari might be a formidable contender at COTA this weekend.