Russell Sacrifices Position for Team Strategy

Despite discussing the situation with Mercedes engineers, George Russell was informed he wouldn’t regain his position upon returning to the track, forcing him to settle for six points in the drivers’ championship instead of a possible eight.



However, he managed to claw back one point by registering the fastest lap, providing Mercedes a small boost in the constructors’ standings.



Discussing the incident on Ted’s Race Notebook, Kravitz said: “I would suggest if I was Mercedes, I would give George some kind of bonus, and a sort of thank you very much present for sacrificing the glorious P6 and getting the fastest lap for the team.”



Kravitz mentioned he encountered Russell’s parents, Steve and Alison, who were talking to Sky Sports colleague Naomi Schiff and laughed off his comments.



READ: Verstappen Rejects Mercedes Advances, Commits to Red Bull Amid F1 Speculation



He added: “If I was George I would demand an extra tot of rum, going back to a sort of naval tradition.”



Russell downplayed the situation, telling Sky in his post-race debrief: “You’re never going to be happy with P6 and P7.



“At the end of the day, as a team we scored an extra point.



“I lost my position to Lewis but I’m not going to sulk over losing a P6.”



Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff explained the strategic pit stop decision after the race.



“His lap times were getting slower and slower, and our forecast saw he was not going to make it to the end, and we didn’t want to lose the position to [Sergio] Perez,” Wolff said.



“Lewis would have probably taken him anyway.



READ: Haas Sues Former F1 Team Principal Guenther Steiner for Trademark Infringement



“The point being that we are racing for P6 and P7 and wanted to keep the Red Bull behind. It was a safety call.”



Both Russell and Hamilton acknowledged that the team is in “no man’s land” following a disappointing start to the season.



They currently stand seventh and eighth respectively after seven races, with Mercedes ranking fourth in the constructors’ standings.
The post Russell Sacrifices Position for Team Strategy appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk .