George Russell called Mercedes’ crashes the “worst outcome” in their “best qualifying” of 2022 at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Brackley-based team has continued their improved form from Silverstone at the Red Bull Ring and was in the fight for pole with Red Bull and Ferrari entering Q3.
However, first Lewis Hamilton at Turn 7 and then Russell at Turn 10 would both find the barriers after losing the rear in windy conditions.
Lewis and George were showing good pace in qualifying before disaster struck for both drivers in Q3#AustrianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/QpVsx7mPhl
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 8, 2022
And George, whose first lap in Q3 was still good enough for fifth fastest, was frustrated not to get his final run in.
“Two things: I could have been P4, for sure, I was a tenth up on my lap and absolutely went for it because I thought there was an opportunity for third,” he said.
“As it turns out, probably not. But we just need to see how much damage is done. I’m sorry to the team and to the guys in the garage.”
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A penalty for Sergio Perez has since promoted Russell up to fourth on the grid for the Sprint on Saturday, and the Briton hopes to capitalise.
“I think we ordinarily have better race pace than we do quali pace,” he suggested. “We’re definitely there in the fight.
“As a team, probably our best qualifying of the year in terms of pace, but probably the worst in terms of outcome. That’s racing.
“I’m personally going through a tricky couple of races, at the moment, but we’ve got tomorrow to make up for it.”
#Mercedes will look to rebound in the #F1Sprint as #GeorgeRussell starts P5 & #LewisHamilton from P10#F1 #Formula1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/5nUOXVlkVv
— InsideRacing.com (@INSIDERACINGcom) July 8, 2022
And more broadly, George is cautiously optimistic that Mercedes is getting back in the game.
“There’s definitely positive signs,” Russell said.
“We know that we’ve brought some things to the car. We know that Ferrari and Red Bull were probably pushing the boundaries with the planks a bit more than the interpretation of the regulation and probably all these things coming together is coming in our favour.
“Not getting carried away, Lewis was doing a phenomenal job, he was absolutely flying today.
“I probably went in the wrong direction with my set-up for qualifying but may be in a good place for the race. I feel okay, physically, I’m just a bit concerned about the car and if we can recover it.”
After the session, Russell was given a warning by the stewards for crossing the ‘live’ racetrack on his way back to the pits following his crash.