Following a comment made over team radio during last Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Russell explains how dirty air from 2024 Formula 1 cars has created an issue with crash helmets.
Dirty air has long been a sticking point in Formula 1, with the current era of regulations introduced in 2022 targeting a significant reduction in the outwash created by the cars. The main goal of this reduction was to allow drivers to follow cars more effectively and improve racing. However with dirty air once again being highlighted in 2024, George Russell has revealed another issue.
Russell has explained that the turbulent air from a leading car has caused him problems so far in the season by shaking his helmet.
The Mercedes man also became the most recent driver to highlight that the current flock of cars are more difficult to follow closely that those of the two previous seasons. He joins Hülkenberg, Zhou and Norris who have commented on the apparent difficulty in following cars already this season.
“It’s been a bit of a theme this year,” He told Motorsport.com when asked about his comments during the Grand Prix. “But I have had no problem with helmets in practice and qualifying, and then as soon as we get to the race with all the turbulence and cars around there’s lots of buffeting and struggling a bit in this regard.
“The cars are definitely harder to follow recently than they have been in the past.”
In addition to his helmet woes, Russell also commented on a steering vibration during the Grand Prix, an issue he admits he has not gotten to the bottom of. The young Briton notes that a slightly flat spotted tyre may have been the culprit. Despite his issues, Russell managed to cross the line in P7, passing Piastri in the closing stages of the Grand Prix.
“Yeah, I’m not too sure where that came from,” he said of his steering vibration. “There may be a small flat spot, I just need to assess it.”
