George Russell puts the blame on overly sensitive tyres following a struggle to a P6 finish for Mercedes in yesterday’s Mexico City Grand Prix while teammate Hamilton stormed to another P2 finish on the road.
Photo credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
George Russell endured a very different Mexico City Grand Prix weekend in comparison to his teammate, qualifying P8, 2 spots behind his teammate on Saturday and only managing an improvement to P6 by the chequered flag yesterday.
Russell seemed to lack the pace shown by his teammate during the Grand Prix, unable to pass the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz stalling his progress and eventually causing him to drop back and lose a place to Lando Norris.
“This weekend has been a weekend about tyres…”
Speaking after the Grand Prix, Russell stated that heat management was the limiting factor for him as he struggled to keep his brakes cool and his tyres warm, eventually costing him the pace he needed to follow those ahead.
“It was just a race dictated by tyres,” Russell said. “Once again the car felt really strong right behind Carlos [Sainz], just couldn’t quite make an overtake, but we had to back off because my brakes were overheating as they were for many drivers.
“As soon as I backed off, I totally lost all the temperature in my tyres and could never recover it. It was like driving on ice for the last fifteen laps, a pretty miserable feeling, and very lucky to finish P6.
“We were strong here last year, we qualified on the front row, probably should have had two cars on the podium here last year. [The car’s] definitely performing well, but this weekend has been a weekend about tyres as it has been for everyone. Yesterday was a total surprise for many teams, I’m hoping Brazil won’t be that sensitive.”
“I know the reason for it.”
When asked about his pace deficit to Hamilton, Russell waved off the concern, once again highlighting his temperature issues as well as citing similar issues which he faced last time out in Austin.
“I’m not too concerned because I know the reason for it,” he said of his offset to his teammate. “It’s been two race weekends in a row, for two different reasons. Last week it was fuel and I lost the tyres because I backed off to manage the fuel, and this weekend it was the brakes.”
“Really happy to see him performing well.”
Russell was also asked about the risk of Daniel Ricciardo rapidly approaching from behind in the last few laps of the Grand Prix. With Russell struggling for grip on cold tyres, Ricciardo was able to rapidly close the gap in the final stages and attempt an overtake on the last lap.
Russell says he was not concerned by Ricciardo, but admits he would likely have been passed had there been one extra lap.
“No but for sure one more lap and he would have done,” Russell said of Ricciardo’s closing lap charge. “He’s had a really great weekend, really happy to see him performing well.”
