“Absolute disaster of a restart”- Disheartened fans react to George Russell’s Dutch GP exit due to a puncture caused by Lando Norris incident

George Russell had qualified in P3 for the Dutch GP.

“Absolute disaster of a restart”- Disheartened fans react to George Russell’s Dutch GP exit due to a puncture caused by Lando Norris incident

George Russell (Image credit: PlanetF1)

The Dutch Grand Prix kicked off in a whirlwind of chaos as rain descended almost immediately, forcing teams to swiftly revise their pit strategies. This resulted in a dynamic grid lineup that underwent frequent changes throughout the initial four laps.

During the 64th lap, the race took a dramatic turn when Alfa Romeo’s driver, Guyanyu Zhou, collided with the barriers due to the intense rain, prompting a red flag suspension. However, upon the race’s restart, an unforeseen incident involving Lando Norris led to Russell’s unfortunate retirement from the 2023 Dutch GP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd305pYnYIs

In the closing stages of the race, just four laps away from the finish, George Russell delivered an unexpected message to his team, declaring “I’m out,” and subsequently headed back to the pits. Subsequent clarification revealed that the British driver had fallen victim to a puncture. Ultimately dashing his hopes and concluding his race in the latter part of the Grand Prix.

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After a brief pause of around 30 minutes, the race restarted behind the safety car. Max Verstappen’s impeccable restart allowed him to surge ahead of Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez, clinching his ninth consecutive victory. This triumph propels Verstappen’s pursuit of the 2023 World Drivers’ Championship, positioning him favorably for a third title.

Also read: “F**k, how did we mess up,” George Russell goes on an angry rant as pit call ruined his Dutch GP

George Russell’s puncture drama triggers online support

Mercedes W14 at Zandvoort (Image credit: Maercedes-AMG)

George Russell’s race retirement, despite a promising third-place qualifying, was marred by a collision with Lando Norris. This unexpected incident dashed Russell’s aspirations, casting a shadow over what could have been a remarkable performance. However, fans too sympathized with the Brit after an unfortunate turn of events.

One user expressed his views on Russell’s misfortune. “Absolute disaster of a restart for George Russell,” he Tweeted. Another user recalled George Russell’s debut with Mercedes in 2020 where he was met with the same difficulty. They Tweeted, “Not another rear left puncture.” A different user described the puncture as a “Nightmare for George Russell.”

https://twitter.com/Jvdb111/status/1695819920901046398

A user highlighted how underwhelming George’s Dutch GP turned out to be. They Tweeted, “from podium place to pit lane puncture: the george russell zandvoort story.” Another user did not sugarcoat their words when it came to reviewing Russell’s driving skills. “Just a shit wheel to wheel racer,” They Tweeted.

Max Verstappen surged to a triumphant victory in the Dutch Grand Prix, showcasing his driving prowess. Trailing the two-time champion were Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez, securing second and third positions at the finish line. Notably, Perez’s podium placement was revoked due to a five-second penalty, elevating Pierre Gasly to the third position on the podium.

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