In the lead-up to the Japanese Grand Prix, drivers revisited the incident between George Russell and Fernando Alonso during the Australian Grand Prix. In that race, Russell, equipped with fresher tires, had been closing in on Alonso in the final stages. Approaching Turn 6, Russell rapidly gained on Alonso's Aston Martin, lost control, and collided with the barriers.

Post-race, stewards reviewed the incident and concluded that Alonso had altered his typical approach to the corner, deeming his actions "potentially dangerous." Consequently, Alonso received a 20-second time penalty.

Reflecting on the event, Russell expressed his surprise:

"I was actually looking at the steering wheel, making a switch change in the straight, which we all do across the lap. When I looked up, I was in Fernando’s gearbox and it was sort of too late, then [the] next thing I know I’m in the wall."

He further noted the broader implications had the incident gone unpenalized:

"I think if it were not to have been penalized, it would have really opened a can of worms for the rest of the season and in junior categories, of saying, are you allowed to brake in a straight? Are you allowed to slow down, change gear, accelerate, do something semi-erratic?"

 

Russell emphasized that his concerns were not personal against Alonso and shared a lighthearted anecdote about a chance meeting:

"We actually saw each other back home, just coincidentally bumped into each other in a coffee shop... He didn’t get my coffee, though, so I thought that was probably the least that could have happened! But no, as I said, it’s history now."

 

Alonso, on the other hand, reiterated his disagreement with the stewards' decision and expressed his intent to discuss the matter further during the drivers' briefing in Japan.

As the Japanese Grand Prix approached, both drivers appeared ready to move past the incident, focusing on the challenges ahead at Suzuka.