George Russell, driver for Mercedes, shared his frustrations regarding Charles Leclerc’s defending moves during the Turkish Grand Prix. Russell closely followed Leclerc for the first 18 laps of the race but was unable to overtake him until Leclerc made an early pit stop. Russell, who had an unusually long first stint on the soft tires, found himself behind Leclerc after his own slow mid-race pit stop. Despite this setback, Russell engaged in a thrilling battle with Leclerc before eventually passing him and securing a fifth-place finish. Reflecting on the race, Russell admitted that he felt comfortable on the soft tires and believed he could have extended his stint even further if he had clear air. He also expressed frustration over Leclerc’s aggressive defending moves, specifically citing an incident during braking into Turn 16. While Russell acknowledged that Leclerc received a warning for his actions, he felt that it was borderline in terms of the rules. Russell, however, did not plan to pursue the matter further in the next drivers’ briefing, stating that he needed to review the footage before making any further judgments.
Strategy Choices and Unexpected Performance from McLaren
Russell also discussed his strategy choices and the unexpected performance of the McLaren team during the latter part of the race. Initially, Russell anticipated being able to compete with the McLarens and secure a podium finish alongside Lewis Hamilton. However, he was surprised by how well the McLarens were able to turn on their tires and gain an advantage. Russell speculated that if the McLarens had opted for the soft tires, the outcome may have been different. Additionally, he believed that if he had chosen the hard tires, his performance would not have matched that of the McLarens. Russell considered the medium/hard tire strategy to be the wrong choice, stating that the soft tires were undoubtedly the better option. Ultimately, the McLarens were consistently faster by one and a half to two tenths of a second. Despite his frustrations with strategy and the performance of his competitors, Russell took responsibility for the pit stop delay, attributing it to his aggressive entry into the pit lane that caused the tires to lock up. However, he reassured that this delay did not significantly impact the outcome of his race.
In summary, George Russell’s experience at the Turkish Grand Prix was filled with both frustration and admiration. While he faced challenges in overtaking Charles Leclerc, he showcased his skills during a thrilling battle. Russell expressed frustrations over Leclerc’s defending moves and felt that they crossed the line of what was allowed within the rules. However, he did not plan to pursue the matter further without reviewing the footage. Russell also reflected on his strategy choices and the unexpected performance of the McLaren team, acknowledging their superiority on the track. Despite the setbacks, Russell took responsibility for his pit stop delay and emphasized that it did not significantly impact the outcome of his race. Overall, the Turkish Grand Prix provided Russell with valuable insights and lessons for future races.
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