MOTOR RACING-F1-Hamilton apologises to teammate for 'unfortunate' crash.

British race car driver Lewis Hamilton said he accepted responsibility for the collision with Mercedes teammate George Russell that put him out of the Qatar Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday.

Hamilton, the seven-time world champion with Grenadian heritage, said at the end of the race that he was going to have a conversation with his fellow Briton and their relationship was still great at the moment.

'I think we are a great team,' he said in a post-race interview. 'George and I still have a great relationship. We will discuss things and work it out. I'm happy to take responsibility as the older guy.I don't think George had anywhere to go at that point.'

Hamilton started from third on the grid at the Lusail International Circuit on soft tyres, but Russell started from the front row next to pole sitter and newly-minted world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, both on medium tyres.

As Russell and Verstappen duelled into the first corner, the fast-starting Hamilton attempted to go around the outside of them, but he made contact with his teammate, who was sandwiched between him and the Red Bull.

Hamilton was pitched into the gravel with his right rear tyre destroyed, complaining over the radio that he had been taken out by Russell, who was able to continue the race, which was won by Verstappen, and finished fourth.

'I was trying to get ahead of both of them and just an unfortunate situation,' Hamilton said. 'I had the worst tyre of everyone around me, so I needed to try and get ahead. Big risk, big penalty.

'The relationship isn't broken. I don't have any problems with George, we have a great relationship, we work, and we always talk about things.

'So this is definitely unfortunate, and I'm sure he was frustrated at the moment like I was. But we will...