Russell was ordered to let his ill♑ustrious𝓡 teammate pass, with four laps to go at Suzuka, despite making it clear via team radio that he disagreed with the call.

Anthony Davidson commented on Sky: “[Hamilton] was falling back from Charles Leclerc. It leꦿav🍸es Russell massively vulnerable.

“I think Russell was right.”

Ted Kravitz added: “Mercedes have crea🌟ted this proble🀅m.”

Carlos Sainz then overtook Russell.

Kravitz said: “Why make the change in the firs🧜t place?”

Davidson said: “I thi❀nk they were worried that Carlos would find his way past Hamilton and then do this to George, without DRS, it would have been even easier. 

“T🐻hey were looking at it from the worst case ಞscenario.

“George was looking at it like: ‘Let me stay in front, I’ve got Lewis covere🅘d, 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 gettin🅷g overtaken than Lewis’.”

Max♔ Verstappen won the J꧃apanese Grand Prix. Hamilton was fifth, Sainz sixth, Russell seventh.