Russell insists Red Bull are holding back and 'embarrassed' about true pace
Russell insists Red Bull are holding back and 'embarrassed' about true pace
George Russell believes Red Bull are embarrassed to show their true potential despite winning the opening three races.
Max Verstappen had a comfortable lead before the first of two late red flags that caused chaos at the Australian Grand Prix.
Russell had taken the lead early on but he dropped back through the field after a pit stop under the safety car which then turned into a red flag.
The British driver is adamant that Red Bull are not truly giving it their all yet in 2023 to avoid having rules put in place to slow them down, before retiring after his engine caught fire.
READ MORE: Ted Kravitz: The Notebook star who made Max Verstappen mad
Embarrassed
“For sure they’re holding back,” Russell told the BBC Chequered Flag podcast. “They’re almost embarrassed to show their full potential because the faster they seem globally, the more that the sport is going to try and hold them back somehow.
“Realistically, they have around seven-tenths advantage over the rest of the field. Max has got no reason to be pushing it at the moment and neither does Red Bull.”
Russell's Mercedes team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, did bring his W14 home in second to represent the best result of 2023 so far for the Silver Arrows.
Narrowing gap
While Red Bull have taken pole position and victory in all three races so far in 2023, the gap between themselves and the rest is getting narrower with every race.
Russell was only two-tenths of a second away from Verstappen at Albert Park in qualifying having been nearly a second away in Bahrain on ultimate pace.
Fernando Alonso even labelled his qualifying in Melbourne as the best of the season so far despite being second on the grid in Saudi Arabia.
The Spaniard feels that the gap to Red Bull is more important than the position he starts at this stage in the season, proving they're the measuring stick for everyone.
READ MORE: Toto Wolff: Net worth, wife and career profile of Mercedes giant
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Verstappen 'to meet Mercedes over SHOCK 2025 move as Red Bull exit clause revealed'
- 38 minutes ago
F1 champion reveals £100 MILLION contract to keep racing
- 1 hour ago
F1 News Today: Newey 'property hunt' reveals Red Bull exit clues as Hamilton hints at Ferrari swoop
- 2 hours ago
Sky Sports F1 pundit calls for RADICAL change with impressive argument
- 2 hours ago
- 1
Newey TURNED DOWN F1 rivals before Red Bull decision
- 3 hours ago
Newey's wife 'scoping out properties' in MAJOR hint over next move
- Today 14:57
Related news
FIA slammed for 'ridiculous' Russell investigation
'Disaster waiting to happen': F1 star demands FIA safety OVERHAUL after terrifying crash
Russell reveals Alonso SNUB after post-crash meeting
Mercedes F1 star makes revelation about NEW driver
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