George Russell expressed frustration after experiencing steering issues during the Q3 qualifying session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver qualified in fourth position, falling short of his expectations despite having a strong start earlier in the weekend.
Performance Overview
Russell, who won this event last year, shone in final practice and excelled in both Q1 and Q2 amid challenging wet conditions. However, he faced significant difficulties in Q3.
Steering Issues Impact Qualifying
- Russell reported losing power steering during the final laps.
- He struggled to navigate the corners effectively.
- Despite the setbacks, he believes he could contend for the win.
“Q3 didn’t really come together for us, but I actually had some sort of steering issue on the last three laps,” Russell explained. He noted that while he didn’t expect to secure pole position, the situation was frustrating. “I was really struggling to turn around the corners,” he added. Despite finishing in P4, he remained optimistic about his chances to compete against polesitter Lando Norris.
Challenges for Kimi Antonelli
Kimi Antonelli, Russell’s teammate, faced his own difficulties. He was eliminated in Q1, qualifying in 17th place, which was disappointing considering the challenging track conditions. Many drivers, including Antonelli, found it hard to adapt to the slippery surface caused by prior rainfall.
- Antonelli locked up the front right tire on his last lap.
- He felt he had sufficient braking margin but still lost the opportunity to advance.
- “It was a shame, because the lap was good enough to get through,” he said.
With the Las Vegas Grand Prix drawing attention for its unique challenges, both drivers are looking to turn their performances around in the race itself.
