Russell started the 57-lap run around Losail Circuit from second place but a superior launch for team-mate Hamilton, who lined up third on soft tyres, brought the pair together into the first corner.
Hamilton tried to move round the outside but clipped Russell, who was sent spinning. He then pitted before battling his way back to fourth place in an intensely humid encounter.
Without the crash, which eliminated Hamilton on the spot, Russell reckoned he could have chased Red Bull’s three-time world champion Verstappen for victory given his strong race pace.
“I see no reason why not,” said the Briton when asked if he might have threatened Verstappen.
“We believe that we were on pace [as fast as], if not faster, than McLaren [who scored a double podium with Oscar Piastri ahead of Lando Norris].
“Seeing that Piastri finished so close to Max was really quite surprising.”
Verstappen eventually claimed the win by 4.8 seconds, although this gap was somewhat artificially constrained by the FIA and Pirelli capping stints at 18 laps after identifying microscopic tears in the tyre sidewalls owing to the new raised kerb edges at the circuit.
Source: Autosport