Russell “lost and confused” as Mercedes hampered by F1 bouncing
George Russell admitted that he was “lost and confused” in qualifying for the Formula 1 Spanish GP after a change of set-up before the session failed to pay off.
Russell also struggled with bouncing in Barcelona’s high-speed corners which made his Mercedes W14 even trickier to drive on the limit, with the Briton reporting a belief that there was something wrong with his tyres early in Q1.
“The car wasn't feeling okay every single lap of the session,” said Russell when asked by Autosport about the car's behaviour.
“We made some small changes from FP3 to quali, and the car was bouncing a lot in the high-speed corners.
“The corners that were easily flat in practice, I couldn't take flat. I couldn't get the tyres working, it kind of all went wrong. From the first lap in Q1, I knew we weren't going to be having a good day. It was strange.
“We should be capitalising on conditions like that and we usually do. As a team, we're usually very good when it's challenging, but today, especially on my side it just wasn't there.”
Russell was eliminated in Q2 after making contact with team-mate Lewis Hamilton and lapping over six-tenths shy of Max Verstappen's benchmark time in that phase.
Referencing the one-and-a-half second deficit to Q1 leader Nico Hulkenberg to highlight his struggle, Russell added: “I was trying all sorts with the out-lap, all sorts with pressures. Probably just got ourselves a bit lost and confused.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“The set-up change we made into quali definitely was directionally wrong for those cold, damp, greasy conditions, which is a shame, especially because I think we have a fast race car. I think in FP2 we probably had the second-quickest car after Max, ahead of the Ferraris.
"So not all is lost. We just need to be patient tomorrow in trying to carve back through.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff backed Russell's bleak assessment of his weekend, conceding the team had gone the wrong way with his car.
“It was clear from the beginning that the set-up direction we went with George made the car worse,” he said. “I think from the get-go he complained that he didn't feel any grip, that he had bouncing, the car understeered where before it oversteered.
“And that's something which we need to unwind now to understand exactly what we could have done differently.”
How Mercedes made itself look "silly" with Hamilton-Russell collision
Ferrari F1 upgrades have not shown their best in Spain, says Sainz
Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
Sainz "laughing in the car" as Mercedes repeated DRS trick in F1 Japanese GP
Sainz "laughing in the car" as Mercedes repeated DRS trick in F1 Japanese GP Sainz "laughing in the car" as Mercedes repeated DRS trick in F1 Japanese GP
Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise
Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise
F1 drivers question tyre blanket ban sustainability claims
F1 drivers question tyre blanket ban sustainability claims F1 drivers question tyre blanket ban sustainability claims
Russell says "strange" Suzuka surface causing massive F1 tyre degradation
Russell says "strange" Suzuka surface causing massive F1 tyre degradation Russell says "strange" Suzuka surface causing massive F1 tyre degradation
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
Hamilton: Mercedes DRS request for Russell "made no sense" in F1 Japanese GP
Hamilton: Mercedes DRS request for Russell "made no sense" in F1 Japanese GP Hamilton: Mercedes DRS request for Russell "made no sense" in F1 Japanese GP
Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka
Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka
Why the painful process of Mercedes’ F1 B-spec shift isn’t over yet
Why the painful process of Mercedes’ F1 B-spec shift isn’t over yet Why the painful process of Mercedes’ F1 B-spec shift isn’t over yet
BTCC Silverstone: Turkington wins as title fight goes down to Sutton and Ingram
BTCC Silverstone: Turkington wins as title fight goes down to Sutton and Ingram BTCC Silverstone: Turkington wins as title fight goes down to Sutton and Ingram
Video: Verstappen and Red Bull strike back at the F1 Japanese GP
Video: Verstappen and Red Bull strike back at the F1 Japanese GP Video: Verstappen and Red Bull strike back at the F1 Japanese GP
Autosport Podcast: F1 Japanese GP review
Autosport Podcast: F1 Japanese GP review Autosport Podcast: F1 Japanese GP review
Bagnaia 'cannot make mistakes' like India crash after MotoGP points lead slashed
Bagnaia 'cannot make mistakes' like India crash after MotoGP points lead slashed Bagnaia 'cannot make mistakes' like India crash after MotoGP points lead slashed
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.