Blocked in Monaco, billed at dinner: Albon pays for stalling Russell

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After a Monaco Grand Prix where Alex Albon’s cheeky tactics left George Russell fuming, the Williams driver made peace the old-fashioned way – by picking up the dinner tab!

With F1’s new two-stop rule turning the race into a tactical battle, Albon and Carlos Sainz masterfully slow-played their Williams cars, frustrating Russell’s Mercedes for countless laps.

George, stuck behind Albon’s “erratic” dance, even chanced a chicane cut, penalty be damned, just to escape! Though Albon and Sainz nabbed ninth and 10th, poor Russell limped home pointless in 11th.

"I'm having dinner with him tonight, so he would definitely get the bill,” Russell warned after the race.

True to form, Albon swallowed the bill – just not as painfully as Russell swallowed Williams’ roadblock tactics.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.