Russell was enjoying a strong race in Las Vegas, run🦂ning in contention for the podium.

However, wh🐻en Verstappen looked to overtake him, the pai🥂r collided.

Russell was given a five-second time penalty as a result𒁏, dropping him from fourth t🍌o eighth. 

Speaking to Sky after the race, Russe𝓰ll reflected on his clash with the three-time world champion.

“Another massively missed opportunity this weekend,” he said. “The incident with Max was totally my fault. I꧑ didn’t see him. Totally in my blind spot goiꦦng around Turn 11.

“I was expecting the overtake there. You’ve got the long DRS afterwards. W𝔍e were on course for an easy podium after. It was pretty straightforward.

“Recovered to P4, the five seconds knocks us down to P8. Thi❀s season is one th♓ing after another!”

On the whole, it’s been a disappointing season for Russell, who has scored just one podium in F1 2023.

The British driver struggl🍒ed to hide his frustration.

“Pace was strong but not as strong as the Red Bulls and the Ferraris,” he said. “I think, when you h🅺ave a fast car, luck is always on your side. When you’re on the back foot, luck is ꩲnever on your side.

“Ultimately we just need to keep on pushing, go into next week and see w♔hat we can do. It was just on the wheel cover. If anything, it would have helped my graining because it⛦ would have given me extra cooling. I think we had a few cuts in that tyre so we did the wise thing and changed that set of tyres.

“We recovered P4. Even without♛ the penalty I would have been disappointed. We should have been on that podium. It would have been a nice way to end the season after s🐎uch a disastrous one. This tops it off…”