George Russell Reflects on Challenging Qualifying Session at the Brazilian Grand Prix
George Russell remained positive despite a frustrating qualifying session at the Brazilian Grand Prix, adopting a “could have been worse” mindset after witnessing rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton struggle to make it into Q3.
During the sprint race on Saturday, Russell and his Mercedes teammate, Kimi Antonelli, showcased impressive speed, finishing in second and third positions while fiercely competing against Lando Norris for the win. However, the momentum did not carry into qualifying, where Russell secured only the sixth position, trailing behind Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Isack Hadjar. In contrast, Antonelli made an impressive debut by qualifying on the front row alongside Norris.
Russell acknowledged the difficulties faced during his qualifying run, stating, “I just had no grip, to be honest. I definitely wasn’t the only one complaining—Max was out in Q1, Lewis was down in 13th, and we saw some surprising results across the board.”
Despite his own challenges, Russell remained optimistic, noting that witnessing the struggles of Verstappen and Hamilton helped him put his performance into perspective. “It’s a bit of a shame, but when I see Max and Lewis, it reminds me that it could have been worse. We made the best of a tough situation,” he added.
Verstappen’s qualifying woes were particularly notable; the reigning world champion’s early exit in Q1 came as a shock. He struggled to find the right balance in his car, stating, “I couldn’t push at all. The car was all over the place, sliding around a lot. I had to underdrive it just to avoid any moments, which obviously isn’t ideal for qualifying.”
As the championship race heats up, Verstappen now faces a 39-point deficit to championship leader Norris after finishing fourth in the sprint race. With a crucial triple-header approaching, he will need to draw on his past successes to remain a contender.
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