AUSTIN, Texas, Oct 25 : George Russell was trying to find solutions after ending eighth in a US Grand Prix gained by Components One champion-in-waiting Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli on Sunday.
The Briton began in sixth place on the grid at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, collected a five-second penalty for an incident with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and stated he had no clarification for his lack of tempo aside from “simply not being fast sufficient.”
“I must attempt to perceive why it’s. It’s unusual while you’re to this point off, so hopefully there’s some solutions someplace. However, anyway, I don’t have one,” he informed Sky Sports activities tv.
The end result left Antonelli getting ready to a coronation, the title certainly his for the taking in Mexico subsequent weekend with Russell nonetheless his closest rival however now 123 factors behind and with a most 125 to be gained.
“The tempo wasn’t good on the primary stint,” Russell informed reporters. “However after I got here out of the pits on the arduous (tyres), I in all probability did six laps the place I used to be lapping the identical tempo as Kimi. However then I caught up with Oscar and I simply could not overtake.
“Six good laps, 50 dangerous laps. I wish to perceive why the tempo was so dangerous on the primary stint.”
Group boss Toto Wolff stated Russell had simply struggled.
“George for all of us within the group is a champion and has gained in each class and I feel he deserves to be put within the group of the easiest ones. And we have seen that final yr,” stated the Austrian.
“This yr … we see this variability in outcomes. Once we land the automotive in a approach that fits him, he is completely quick. However when it drops out of that operational window, he struggles. And he struggles greater than perhaps Kimi.
“We simply should work it out with him, how there could be such a distinction in driving, in efficiency. As a result of George isn’t half a second slower, three tenths slower than Kimi. That is simply completely not the case.”