Russell praises Hamilton and Verstappen but: ‘We’ve got a shot to…read more
George Russell expressed a mix of satisfaction and optimism after completing his sprint qualifying session at the Chinese Grand Prix, where he secured P5, just over two-tenths of a second behind his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who took pole position. Russell praised Hamilton’s performance, describing his lap as impressive and a great effort that earned him the pole for Saturday’s sprint race, as well as setting a new track record at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Reflecting on his own performance, Russell admitted that P5 was the best he could achieve during the session, but he also acknowledged that he had a solid lap in SQ3. He pointed out that it was a strange session, with the team’s performance fluctuating throughout. At one point in SQ2, Russell found himself on the cusp of elimination, even dropping out of the top 10. However, in the blink of an eye, he shot up to P2, despite the fact that the car felt no different during that time. The unpredictability of the session made it difficult to read the conditions, but Russell was happy with how he managed to pull things together and secure a solid starting position.
Russell’s overall attitude after the session was positive, and he expressed confidence that Mercedes had the potential to challenge during the sprint race. He admitted that both Hamilton and Max Verstappen had been impressive, but he was not discouraged. Rather, he believes that Mercedes still has a shot at making a strong impact in the race, highlighting his belief that the team can make progress from the results of sprint qualifying.
Despite acknowledging the strength of the competition, particularly from Hamilton and Verstappen, Russell was optimistic about the upcoming sprint race. He emphasized that Mercedes has a chance to improve and battle for a better result. The unpredictable nature of the track, with conditions swinging from one extreme to another, kept Russell on his toes, but it also made him excited for what was to come. While he finished the session in P5, Russell was still hopeful that with the right adjustments and strategies, he could make significant progress and possibly challenge for a podium finish.
In conclusion, although Russell was pleased with his lap and performance, he knows that there is more to come in the sprint race. He is confident in Mercedes’ potential and eager to see how the team can capitalize on the opportunities that may arise during the race. With Hamilton on pole and Verstappen performing strongly, the competition is fierce, but Russell is determined to give his best shot at the upcoming race.
