A dejected Russell: "This is just the new reality of Formula One"
F1 News
While George Russell started on pole for the past two races, Mercedes clearly started on the backfoot in Abu Dhabi, particularly with Russell, who seemed to struggle throughout the weekend. With seventh place on the starting grid for tomorrow, the Briton is certainly not happy, but he believes he knows what is the reason behind his lowly qualifying position.
Speaking to the media in the Yas Marina Circuit paddock, including GPblog, Russell commented that his sensation did not match the end result. "Come Q3 my lap felt really strong. It felt like all of my laps from this season, when we're fighting right at the front." However, no top team has been able to stay at the top for long in recent times in Formula One.
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"Especially recently, the swings and roundabouts of teams' performances this year have just been extraordinary and we just take ourselves from McLaren looking at Vegas, here, they were well off the pace there, we're well off the pace here," Russell said emphasizing the everchanging nature of the top placed teams in the past few months. "Maybe that is just the reality of Formula One right now and maybe in Abu Dhabi".
In closing the British driver shared a thought that will not give Mercedes fans much to look forward to going into tomorrow's race: "This is the pace of the Mercedes"