F1 News
Russell has his say on his "iconic" Spanish Grand Prix start
Fernando Alonso's start at the 2011 Spanish Grand Prix will be one that is always remembered by his adoring fans, moving up from P4 to take the lead of the race through the first few corners. Fast-forward 13 years later, and George Russell did the exact same at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, holding on around the outside of turn 1 to make an audacious move stick and take the lead of the race after starting from fourth. After the race, the Brit broke down that fantastic manoeuvre.
Russell got the start he was 'dreaming of'
"I was channelling my inner Alonso," said Russell when he was asked about his first lap. "That was such an iconic start. I knew the weather was saying it was going to be a big headwind into that corner. I knew I could break really, really deep and caught the guys off guard. I was sort of dreaming of that last night. I didn't quite think it would come to fruition as it did, so that was fun."
Unfortunately for Russell, he could not hold on for the race win or even a podium, unable to back up his P3 from the Canadian Grand Prix. The Brit was overtaken by eventual race-winner Max Verstappen on lap 3, and a poor strategy call to move him onto the hard tyres meant he was easily passed by Lando Norris and his teammate Lewis Hamilton to fins in P4, ahead of the two Ferraris.
But Russell knows the progress that Mercedes have been making is positive, and he will look to challenge for the podium once again at the Austrian Grand Prix: "It’s been a couple of races in a row now we're fighting for the front rows of the grid, fighting for podiums. It’s really exciting to see the progress we've made, and I feel like we can really build from this now."