Ahead of the final run of Q3 at the Yas Marina Circuit, George Russell asked the Mercedes pit wall to position him just behind Max Verstappen. “Try to get behind Max on the lap he goes in, he’ll probably give me a tow,” the Brit said on the on-board radio. It didn’t get that far because both drivers left the track late and so Russell was right behind Verstappen, but during his last push lap.
Russell did not get further than fourth place and started behind Verstappen and the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. After qualifying, Russell stated that he saw the request on the on-board radio more as a “subtle hint at the Red Bull pit wall”, hoping that thay woudl “consider it a little”. He was counting on a slipstream from the Dutchman, as he ideally saw other drivers standing between him and the mclarens for his title chances.However, the timing for Russell’s plan was not good. “Max went out early in his first Q3 run, so he was promptly in a position to do that – and of course they need someone who can sit in between,” Russell said. Motorsport.com out.
George Russell did not get further than fourth place in qualifying.
Foto door: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Now that Verstappen has pole and is in front of the McLarens, russell expects that it will not be a straightforward race in Abu Dhabi. If it ended this way, Norris would be champion. “If we finish round one in the order in which we start, he is certainly not going to just pull away and give Lando an easy podium spot,” suspects Russell, who is counting on tactical games from Verstappen. “But everything can change after the first lap. If Lando starts well and takes the lead, the championship can be decided quickly.We don’t have the pure speed, but I am convinced that there will be opportunities.”
It has happened before in Abu Dhabi that the leading driver holds up the field to allow the rest to follow in the hope of creating more duels. That happened in 2016 with Lewis Hamilton, who hoped that Nico Rosberg would be knocked out of second place – but that didn’t happen and so the title went to Rosberg. russell,if he had been fighting for the title,would also consider something like that. “Holding up the field on a street circuit, such as, is actually very normal,” says russell. “In Singapore you control the pace, and try to increase the gap around the pit stops. You don’t have to drive recklessly or dangerously. You can simply manage three to four tenths slower per lap, then the entire field moves closer together. On some circuits you can even drop half to a full second in certain places – without risk.So yes, you can expect him to do that,” concludes Russell, pointing to Verstappen.
