“It felt like our pole to have,” George Russell left disappointed after almost placing his W13 on Pole at the Mexican GP
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George Russell
George Russell snatched the top spot from Max Verstappen for the Mexican Grand Prix qualifying. Mercedes has shown tremendous pace at higher altitudes, beating the Ferraris and getting almost near to the Red Bulls. Comparing the performance from the early part of their season, Mercedes consider Mexico to be their best qualifying session.
Max Verstappen already looked solid throughout the weekend but the Mercedes looked on his back topping two of the practice sessions. This did continue to the Qualifying with Ferrari seemed focused on racing pace, but did not have much regardless, Mercedes had a clear view for the top but with one problem: Verstappen. Russell did manage to get Verstappen till the very last sector but lost out to him at the end.
Russell utterly dissatisfied expressed his apologies to the team. “The team deserve more today. They’ve produced a good car this weekend and it’s a testament to the hard work they have put in for so long. We saw last week with Lewis what the car was capable of and we saw this weekend, it felt like our pole to have,” said Russell.
George Russell on the difference between Mexico and other tracks had
Mexico is set at a very high altitude given a certain team advantage but taking a few from the others. For example, the air density is very low, which decreases the drag, and so teams run very high wings, but only have Monza-level downforce. Mercedes with a car troubled by drag did do quite well on a track which isn’t really drag-dependent. George Russell considers this ‘the’ factor for better performance.
Russell further added: “I just want to kick myself but at the end of the day no points for qualifying, but great to be on the front row. We brought an update to Austin and I think it didn’t give the opportunity to show the potential it was capable of and in the altitude, the drag is less of a factor and we can get out dragged by Red Bull on the straights but here it’s less of that.”
Anyways, Mercedes with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will be looking at the top spot on the podium after the race. Mexico could very much be their last chance to get on the top step this season on pace. Tomorrow, it’s all to play for, and pole is actually not ‘that’ important at Mexico, as the man on pole has only won the race twice out of the last six times.
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Soham Raj Jain
(480 Articles Published)