Russell takes full blame after squandering "top seven" chance

A dejected George Russell took full blame for his error that cost Williams a spot in Q3 for the Turkish Grand Prix.

Qualifying was run in difficult conditions after rain earlier in the day, with every driver running on slicks despite large damp patches at crucial corners around the circuit.

Briton Russell was flying on his second set of medium tyres in Q2 and was a second up on his previous best lap entering the final chicane at Istanbul Park.

A slide at turn 14, however, derailed his efforts and consigned the Mercedes-bound Briton to only 13th on the grid.

The result would have been all the more impressive given Russell had spun out of final practice on intermediate tyres without setting a lap time, with his only experience of dry conditions on Friday.

"The lap was incredible to be honest.," said Russell. "I was a second up on my previous lap, it would have probably been just inside the top five, half a second or six tenths ahead inside Q3 and just lost it.

"I am really trying to sort of push the boundaries at the moment and just too many mistakes from my side, especially today.

"It is human error, at the end of the day I am the one inside the car and the conditions weren't easy, for sure, but it is the same for everybody.

"I expect more from myself, these are the conditions I relish and use to take an opportunity.

"We didn't have the car this weekend to be inside the top 10 yet in this qualifying session in these conditions, [but] we could have been top seven on the grid so I am pretty disappointed."

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