Russell wants Mercedes talks, Hamilton collision under investigation

George Russell says the Formula 1 collision with Lewis Hamilton in Spanish Grand Prix qualifying was "a massive miscommunication" and that the team will need to discuss the incident.

In Q2 in Barcelona, Hamilton was tucked up behind Russell entering the pit-straight, and with the momentum, went to overtake the sister car around the outside on the approach to Turn 1.

However, Russell moved across while passing the slow Carlos Sainz, clipping Hamilton's front-wing and forcing him into the grass.

Russell would be eliminated in the segment and only qualify P12 with Hamilton advancing through to Q3, and securing fifth on the grid, having been second after the initial runs behind eventual pole-sitter Max Verstappen.

The two British drivers have been called to see the stewards over the incident.

Russell explains collision

"It was just a massive miscommunication," Russell told media including RacingNews365.

"I was looking ahead trying to get the slipstream from Carlos and next thing Lewis was there, so we need to talk internally about how that happened, because between two teammates, it never should.

"It was neither [drivers] fault.

"Nothing by either driver was necessarily wrong, just within the team, it shouldn't happen and the communication should be better."

Knew from Q1 it would be hard

Russell was struggling for pace throughout the session as Hamilton looked the more assured of the two Mercedes drivers.

The one-time Grand Prix winner explained that he knew he'd be in for a tricky day as soon as Qualifying started.

"We made some small changes from FP3 to Qualifying, and the car was bouncing," he said.

"The high speed corners that were easy flat in practice, I couldn't take flat, couldn't the tyres working and it all went wrong.

"Back in Q1, I knew we weren't going to have a good day, it was strange. We should be capitalising on conditions like that, we usually do - the team is very good when it is challenging.

"It was pretty telling the first lap in Q1 with [Nico] Hulkenberg P1, one-a-half-seconds quicker than we could achieve.

"I was trying all sorts on the outlap, all sorts of pressures, and we probably just got ourselves a bit confused.

"A set-up change we made into Qualifying was definitely the wrong direction for these cold, damp, greasy conditions, which is a shame especially because I think we have a fast race car."