F1 News: George Russell Surprised By Lack Of Pace - "Clearly Got It Wrong"

George Russell's initial surge in the São Paulo Sprint was curtailed by tyre wear issues, prompting Mercedes to reassess their approach for the pivotal Grand Prix.

George Russell reflected on an arduous São Paulo F1 Sprint, where tyre wear significantly affected Mercedes' pace, deviating from the team's pre-race expectations.

Key Takeaways:

• George Russell's promising start in the F1 Sprint was overshadowed by unexpected tyre degradation, leaving him in P4 at Interlagos.
• Russell expressed surprise at the pace difference with frontrunners, attributing the shortfall to tyre performance inconsistencies.
• Looking ahead to the Grand Prix, Russell anticipates potential improvements with cooler track conditions but remains cautious after today's tyre management issues.

The São Paulo Sprint at Interlagos proved to be a demanding contest for Mercedes' George Russell, who experienced a stark shift in fortunes after the first lap. Initially surging forward, Russell's aspirations were dampened as the race unfolded, with tyre wear taking a toll on his performance.

In his own words, Russell shed light on the day's struggle:

"I had a good first lap but after that, it was a struggle. We expected the tyre degradation to be less than it turned out to be."

His assessment didn't shy away from the team's miscalculations regarding their tyre strategy:

"We certainly didn't expect to be outright quickest, but we were surprised by the pace delta to those ahead. That all came down to the tyres. Sometimes we seem to be able to get them to work, other times we struggle. It's a shame but we clearly got it wrong today where others didn't."

Despite the difficulties, Russell remained forward-thinking, considering the implications for Sunday's main event:

"The track will be a little bit cooler on Sunday which may swing things more into our favour. We will obviously learn things from today too and make some changes."

However, his outlook for the upcoming Grand Prix was tinged with realism due to the issues faced:

"It's likely to be at least a two-stop race, but I'm not as optimistic heading into tomorrow's Grand Prix as I was this morning."

With Russell starting from P6 this Sunday, the Mercedes team is poised to dive into analysis and adjustments to mitigate the tyre degradation that plagued their Saturday performance. The sprint has provided valuable lessons, and with cooler track conditions expected, there is a glimmer of hope that the changes made could yield a more positive outcome in the race that matters most.