Portugal Colonial - Albon picks up the tab for Russell's lobster pasta Monaco 'revenge'

Williams driver Albon had slowed, delayed and blocked the Mercedes man during last Sunday's race so much that Russell eventually cut a chicane and accepted a penalty, claiming afterwards that he would gain revenge by making Albon pay the bill at dinner.

The pair laughed as they recounted details of their meal with Albon revealing his guest had chosen a lobster pasta dish.

"He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu – the lobster pasta," Albon told a press conference on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.

"But he skipped dessert so it kind of equalled out. It was good fun, a fun evening…. And yeah, I did pay. As I should," he added.

Russell finished the race a frustrated 11th as Mercedes endured a pointless event while Williams who engaged a tactic of using their drivers to hold up the pack to create a pit-stop window for each other, finished ninth and 10th.

The RB team of rookies Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson used similar tactics on their way to career best sixth and eighth places, Lawson notably creating pit-stop opportunities for Hadjar.

The Frenchman thanked his New Zealand team-mate on Thursday, but said he had no plans to reciprocate on track.

"Maybe a dinner or something," he agreed would be an appropriate gesture.

Sunday's race at the Circuit de Catalunya completes a triple-header of three consecutive races in Italy, Monaco and Spain.

Lando Norris won in Monaco to move to within three points of his McLaren teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri.

X.Brito--PC