As his team-mate Lewis Hamilton ended up pushing Max Verstappen laborious for the race victory prior to his disqualification for an excessively worn plank, Russell had a way more low-key outing.
Having misplaced locations at the beginning, he had a poor stint on the hards as gas saving kicked in, earlier than a change to mediums and the all-clear to push triggered a restoration that helped him shut down Verstappen by 10 seconds.
He finally completed seventh, earlier than getting promoted to fifth because of the post-race exclusions.
Evaluation: The can of worms opened by Hamilton and Leclerc’s F1 US GP disqualifications
Reflecting on the outing, Russell believed the gas issue hid what he felt was clear promise from the brand new flooring on the W14.
“Positively the upgrades had been performing rather well and I feel that was clear with the efficiency,” he stated. “We had some limitations on my aspect. I had not sufficient gas and was having to handle the gas for half of the race. That actually put me on the backfoot.
“However the final stint, we simply went for it and the tempo was most likely the strongest on the market, which undoubtedly bodes effectively for the top of the season.”
Photograph by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG
The sturdy tempo of Mercedes in Austin, off the again of big potential in Qatar that was wrecked by a first-corner collision between Russell and Hamilton, has indicated that the crew has turned the nook on the W14.
And Russell feels that the character of Mexico – with plenty of low-speed corners and thinner air which ought to assist with the W14’s drag traits – can ship one other likelihood to threaten Crimson Bull.
“The automotive was performing rather well final yr on paper,” he stated. “I might say this circuit fits us higher than the likes of Austin and Qatar and Japan, on which we had been nonetheless fairly aggressive too.
“I would not say now we have excessive hopes right here, however I feel it ought to go well with barely higher. Little bit of an unknown going to the C5 compound this yr in comparison with the C4 final yr, however we’re feeling optimistic going into these two races.”
Russell’s emotions on the competitiveness of Mercedes include Max Verstappen bracing himself for a harder time with the Crimson Bull.
“I personally do not suppose that is our greatest monitor on the calendar, trying on the behaviour of our automotive this yr, with the low-speed corners and the kerbing as effectively,” stated Verstappen forward of operating. “Our automotive isn’t superb on that.
“So, I do anticipate it to be robust, particularly over one lap. The race I imply, once more, I do not actually know. Usually we have been all the time fairly respectable in race trim, however over one lap I do suppose that there is going to be fairly a decent battle, not solely with Mercedes. I do suppose Ferrari as effectively, and McLaren, currently they’ve been very sturdy over one lap.”