Russell: Belgian GP shunt the "biggest crash I have had"
Russell: Belgian GP shunt the "biggest crash I have had"
Williams driver George Russell dubbed his race-ending shunt during the Belgian Grand Prix as the biggest of his career.
Russell was lapping two positions back from Antonio Giovinazzi when the Italian lost control of his Alfa Romeo on the exit of the Fagnes chicane. The heavy contact with a tyre barrier ripped the rear-left wheel and suspension away from the C39.
As Russell arrived on the scene at over 200kph, he was unable to avoid it, with the contact destroying the front-right portion of his Williams and pitching him into a barrier on the opposite side of the track from Giovinazzi's shunt.
"[That was] Probably the most dramatic incident I’ve had in Formula 1, no doubt," said Russell.
"To be honest, so far [before] today, I’ve only had a couple of offs. So it was the biggest crash I have had."
Reflecting on the incident, he added: "I saw Antonio hit the wall. I managed to have a second to decide whether to go left or right.
"I saw him coming out of the wall and sort of staying slightly to the right, in which case I committed to the left and I think suddenly, he got flicked over by one of his rear wheels and that launched across and hit my car.
"I was doomed if I went right because I would’ve crashed into him, I was doomed if I went left because I hit his wheel. For a very split second, it was proper scary seeing that massive rear tyre flying across the circuit with no idea where it was going to go."
For Giovinazzi, the retirement was his first of the season, with the accident a result of pushing too hard.
The Italian commented: "[It was] Just a snap of oversteer on the exit. I was pushing just too much just to stay behind Sebastian on the DRS. Just too much on the limit and when you are always on the limit sometimes this will happen."
Before you go...
Venting frustration will get Ferrari nowhere - Vettel Gasly feared he was "in the wall" in duel with Perez
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 legend OFFENDED by F1's rejection of Andretti's bid
- 37 minutes ago
F1 News Today: Horner and Red Bull saga to reignite as Perez makes 'game over' admission
- 1 hour ago
F1 boss holds talks with Prime Minister about potential new race
- 1 hour ago
Big name driver 'very angry internally' after controversial battle
- 2 hours ago
Horner Red Bull saga set to reignite with FIA 'evidence' hearing
- 3 hours ago
F1 set for talks over RADICAL change to points rules
- Today 08:27
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