Russell takes blame for Q2 crash but reveals no grid penalty for damage
Russell takes blame for Q2 crash but reveals no grid penalty for damage
George Russell took full blame for his Dutch Grand Prix qualifying exit after a crash at the penultimate corner prevented him from reaching Q3 but revealed there should be no need to take a grid penalty for damage.
The Williams driver was up on the time he needed to reach the top 10 as the first of the final 15 to begin his last flying lap in the second session but lost control into the fast right-hander and backed his FW43B into the barrier.
Despite rejoining the track and getting back to the garage under red-flag conditions, the damage to the rear suspension was such that he was not able to continue in the session.
"We weren't quite on the pace this weekend as much as we might have hoped and I was on a really good lap," Russell told Sky Sports F1.
"I came up to the penultimate corner, the tight right-left and my tyres were going. I pushed too hard and obviously, I just attacked that last corner too much and lost the rear so really sorry for the team because that's not how we want to end our qualifying.
"There is a bit of damage on the rear suspension so there shouldn't be any penalties, no issues and nothing the guys wouldn't be able to fix overnight.
"Sorry to the team because at that point, it would have promoted me into the top 10.
"Where that would have panned out later in the session, I don't know but I felt like I had to go for it and see what I could have done. Not how I want to finish qualifying."
Russell expects strategy battle at Zandvoort
Overtaking is expected to be extremely tricky given the nature of the Zandvoort track, with the only expected opportunity at the first corner with DRS assistance.
Russell is optimistic, however, as he has a free choice of tyres from 11th, while no team can be sure of the optimum strategy.
"It is a circuit that you will really struggle to overtake but nobody knows how the tyres are going to react," he explained.
"There are so many right-hand corners on this circuit so that front-left tyre and rear-left tyre are going to take an absolute pounding so that is going to make it tricky.
"Some people have kept two medium tyres, maybe thinking for the two-stop, some people haven't, but still maybe thinking of the two-stop, maybe risking a one-stop.
"Because it is a new experience and we only did 12 laps in a row on Friday, we have got 72 tomorrow so we don't know how that is going to pan out."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 sprint races: How do they work and what are the changes for 2024?
- 21 minutes ago
- 6
EXCLUSIVE: 'Sports should be above' politics claims F1 icon
- 54 minutes ago
Sky Pundit suggests F1 star ‘DETRIMENTAL’ to nation
- 1 hour ago
F1 Flags Explained: What do the different colours mean?
- 2 hours ago
McLaren boss explains why FIA REVERSED Norris F1 penalty
- 3 hours ago
FIA CANCEL important drivers' meeting after huge drama in China
- Today 12:53
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