Russell makes expletive-filled Mercedes rant while missing out on podium
Russell makes expletive-filled Mercedes rant while missing out on podium
George Russell expressed his frustration at missing out on a podium spot at the Dutch Grand Prix, saying that the team ‘missed a big opportunity’.
The Mercedes driver was predicted to have a strong race after qualifying P3 on the grid, but after a series of factors including rain, poor strategy calls and late contact with Lando Norris led him to finish in P17, at the very back of the drivers who finished the race.
Going from at one point leading the Dutch Grand Prix to finishing dead last was frustrating for Russell, who at one point came over his team radio to complain: "I was forecast for a podium? F**k, how did we mess this up?"
After the race, Russell vented his anger at the result, saying that the team ‘got it wrong today’.
He told Sky Sports F1: “I think we had such a fast car today and unfortunately all the decisions and the weather went against us. We need to look into what we could have done better, because we clearly missed a big opportunity today.”
Miscalculating the rain
Russell explained that the team misjudged the length of rain showers and therefore made errors in their tyre strategy.
He said: “I think we were expecting the rain to stay for about one or two minutes and it ended up staying close to ten minutes.
“It was ready for intermediate tyres, but I thought I could brave it out for a lap or two more if it was clearly only going to be one or two minutes more of rain and it obviously wasn’t.
“We’d rather have a fast car and a bad day, than the opposite. Big missed opportunity today.
The Mercedes driver added: “I think for about a quarter of a lap I thought we was on for a great result at the start of the race when we went into the lead.
“With the information I had, I thought the others would’ve made the wrong decision pitting. That was fun while it lasted, lasted a short time. We got it wrong today, but there’s a lot of positives to take away.”
READ MORE: Brundle names the ONE F1 driver operating well above expectations
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 team boss responds to Red Bull's Marko 'offer' claims
- 44 minutes ago
F1 champion SLAMS 'pointless' motorsport crossover
- 1 hour ago
Why Adrian Newey is the BEST and WORST thing to happen to F1
- 2 hours ago
F1 Miami Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today
- 3 hours ago
Adrian Newey: The real F1 MVP and genius behind Red Bull domination
- Today 13:10
- 1
EXCLUSIVE: F1 legend injured in 95G horror crash at Imola '94 praises FIA safety advances
- Today 12:58
Related news
Mercedes chief lifts lid on Hamilton qualifying struggle
Zandvoort to be EXTENDED in 2024 amid rising success of the Dutch Grand Prix
Verstappen on course for ANOTHER record as Russell suffers worst Mercedes result ever
A-list celebrity photo with Sky Sports F1 pundit gets ROYAL approval
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860