Mercedes after turn one crash: 'Worst possible thing to happen'

Sunday was a very tough day for Mercedes at the Qatar Grand Prix after both drivers collided with each other on the first lap at turn one.

Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire from the race after the collision sent the seven-time world champion into the gravel trap. George Russell sustained damage from the crash after Hamilton tried to overtake around the outside, but he recovered well and finished in P4.

Even after Russell's recovery, it was not a brilliant day for the German team. They sent out Bradley Lord, the communications director at Mercedes, who spoke to the media as Toto Wolff was absent from Qatar.

"It was the worst possible thing to happen," Lord started by saying to Sky Sports. "On lap 1 with George at the back and Lewis in the gravel, things didn't look brilliant. But, to turn that around and outscore Ferrari on an afternoon was not something we could've hoped for one lap into the race.

Lord concluded by saying, "What might've been is clear to see. We were on the pace of the McLarens, and it's a double podium that could've been today. We'll take what we got, but it could've been so much more,”