Formula 1: George Russell Blames Tyre Overheating for Half-Second Deficit in Dutch Grand Prix Qualifying
As the Formula 1 season resumed in Zandvoort, George Russell of Mercedes believes that tyre overheating led to his disappointing qualifying performance, resulting in a half-second deficit to polesitter Lando Norris. Despite being on pace throughout Q1 and Q2, Russell failed to improve significantly in the final shootout, ultimately qualifying fourth.
Russell and his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who qualified 12th, are looking to build on their recent success, having won three of the last four races. However, their qualifying performance in the Dutch Grand Prix was a setback.
In Q2, Russell felt he had a shot at pole, having kept up with the McLaren and Red Bull cars. However, in Q3, he improved by only three-tenths, which saw his gap to Norris balloon to over half a second.
“In Q2 my lap felt half-decent and I was the same pace as McLaren, so I went into Q3 thinking I had a shot at pole,” said Russell. “Then the pace just didn’t really come.”
Russell attributed his modest improvement in Q3 to tyre overheating, which he believes cost him significant performance in the final part of his last hot lap.
“I don’t think any of it is in the car, to be honest,” Russell explained. “It’s all down to the tyres. I was on a really strong lap, I was matching Lando, I think I was two-and-a-half-tenths up on myself. The tyres overheated and I just lost more performance than I expected in the last half of the lap.”
Despite his disappointing qualifying performance, Russell remains optimistic about his chances in the race, stating that he can still mix it with the McLarens and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who are starting ahead.
“I expect a good fight with McLarens,” he said. “It’s fair to say they’ve still been the quickest in the last couple of races. So realistically we’re maybe half-a-tenth or a tenth behind McLaren and Red Bull. But if you get the strategy right and make a good start that can all change very quickly.”
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, who struggled with a knife-edge car balance and was impeded by Checo Perez, was less optimistic about his chances, stating that his weekend was “kind of done” and that he can “move on to next week.”
As Formula 1 today gears up for the Dutch Grand Prix, Russell will be looking to make a strong start and capitalize on strategy to move up the order, while Hamilton will need a miraculous turnaround to make an impact from 12th on the grid. The Formula 1 standings are set to be shaken up, with Russell and Hamilton aiming to make a strong impression in the Dutch Grand Prix.
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