Rus👍sell was ordered to let his illustrious teammate pass, with four laps to go at Suzuka, despite making it clear via team radio that he d🦩isagreed with the call.

Anthony Davidson commented on Sky: “[Hamilton] was falling back from Charl🐎es Leclerc. It leaves Russell massively vulnerable.

“I think Russell was right.”

Teꦫd Kravitz added: “Mercedes have created this problem.”

Carlos Sainz then overtook Russell.

Kravitz said: “𝔉Why make the change in the first pla🀅ce?”

Davidson said: “I think they were worried that Carlos would find his way pꦚast Hamilton and then do this t🍷o George, without DRS, it would have been even easier. 

“They were looking at it from th🍎e worst case scenario.

“George was looking at it like: ‘Let me stay i🦩n front, I’ve got Lewis covered, he’s got Carlos covered, he’s got better tyres than me, he’s getting a better exit from the chicane than I’ll have at this stage of the race - there’s more risk of me getting overtaken than Lewis’.”

Max Vers𓄧tappen won the Japanese Gran♐d Prix. Hamilton was fifth, Sainz sixth, Russell seventh.