Untelevised team radio footage has shown Australian Grand Prix winner George Russell criticising the tactics from Ferrari duo Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli completed a Mercedes one-two finish at Albert Park, with Leclerc and Hamilton finishing third and fourth, respectively.

One incident during the race Down Under caused controversy when, after stopping on Lap 12, Russell found himself closing on the yet-to-stop Hamilton on Lap 28. The seven-time former World Champion defended aggressively from his ex-teammate on the high-speed approach to Turn 9.

The move blocked Russell as he moved to the inside, although it did not stop him from regaining the lead into the corner. Now, untelevised team radio has revealed that Russell was left less than impressed by Hamilton’s defence.

He said: “So much movement in the straight when these guys are defending. It’s mega dangerous.”

Russell was earlier heard complaining about Hamilton’s teammate, Leclerc, during their battle for the lead in the first few laps of Sunday’s race in Melbourne. The Monegasque was seen moving Russell to the inside of the track as the Mercedes prepared a move at Turn 11.

In another televised radio transmission, the 28-year-old said: “That was very dangerous by Leclerc, especially [after] what we spoke about in the briefing.”

Russell has also recently admitted he is bracing himself for ‘illegal’ accusations from Hamilton ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. It comes amid an ongoing debate around the new engine regulations, with several drivers in the paddock having complained about the controversial changes – an issue Mercedes are unsurprisingly okay with after dominating the Aussie GP.

He said: “I’m flying with Lewis, so I’m sure I’m going to hear ‘your engine is so good, your compression ratio is illegal’ and this and that. So yeah, I think I’ll just try and get to sleep quite early.”

Russell was asked how he’d respond if Hamilton did make those digs, with the Mercedes driver jokingly responding: “I’d just say ‘shut up and focus on your own stuff’.”