Russell certified fourth for Saturday’s dash at Interlagos, and after first lap received as much as second, having handed Sergio Perez and the Lando Norris.
However he couldn’t preserve that kind and misplaced out to each drivers as he dropped again to fourth, eventually finishing over 25 seconds shy of sprint winner Max Verstappen.
Russell mentioned the drop-off in efficiency had not been anticipated by the group: “Yeah, actually surprising. We did not anticipate to be the quickest, we thought we might be a few tenths behind Max. Possibly comparable tempo to Lando.
“However clearly, we received one thing mistaken immediately. As at all times, [it was] right down to tyres, the tyres simply dropped off, [it is the] story of everyone’s season. And we have to rectify it, as a result of that was a disappointment.
“We all know how delicate the tyres are to the circumstances. So it should be 4 or 5 levels colder tomorrow, that may remodel the whole lot. So not all is misplaced but. I assume everyone within the paddock wished they understood it, however it is a bit of black magic.”
Russell was pissed off that he wasn’t in a position to profit from his robust first lap, particularly his daring transfer for second on Norris.
“It was begin,” he mentioned. “I form of had that Flip 10 lined up as an overtaking alternative, we had been quick in Flip 8-9. And I felt that was my probability, so glad to make that stick. Only a disgrace we went backwards.
Photograph by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W14, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL60
“We are the slowest on the straight in the meanwhile, so we’re very weak if anyone will get DRS behind us. We knew that was going to be the case.
“However that wasn’t the rationale for our lack of tempo. If something, being on a bit extra downforce than everyone else, we had been anticipating to have much less tyre deg. So we actually want to know what went mistaken.”
Russell also questioned the two-pace grid penalty he received for impeding on the pit exit in qualifying for Sunday’s primary race, which dropped him from sixth to eighth on the grid.
“It was a bit irritating when the stewards mentioned to me that I used to be mainly unlucky that Pierre [Gasly] accelerated and got here up proper behind me, and that I did nothing completely different to any of the opposite drivers who stayed form of center of the monitor.
“It’s tough with all the screws and bolts across the monitor, I did not actually need to be proper on the left-hand facet. And yeah, I used to be simply fairly stunned how black and white they took it.
“We’re including quite a lot of new guidelines, and each time we add a brand new rule, it at all times has an unexpected consequence.
“I respect why we’re doing it. However undoubtedly thought it was a bit harsh contemplating it was a really first time that that rule was applied. However we have simply received to suck it up and transfer on.”