George Russell expressed his frustration after qualifying fourth for the United States Grand Prix, feeling that his performance had “more potential.” Despite securing a podium finish in his previous race in Singapore, Russell could not replicate that success during qualifying.
Qualifying Insights from Austin
Russell’s P4 grid position means he will start behind Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will be alongside him on the second row. Reflecting on his qualification, Russell mentioned, “The truth is when I crossed the line, I was pretty happy with my lap.”
Potential for Improvement
Although satisfied with his lap time, he acknowledged missed opportunities for enhancements, particularly on a track as challenging as this one. He stated, “Of course, there could have been more potential in it.” He remains optimistic about the race, emphasizing, “Tomorrow’s a new day. Need to get around Turn 1 – as we saw today, anything’s possible.”
Sprint Success and Strategy
In the Sprint event, Russell improved from P5 to finish P2, indicating a degree of confidence for the race ahead. However, he cautioned against overestimating his chances, noting the significant difference in race length: “Well, the Sprint ended up only being about 10 laps long and tomorrow we’ve got 50-odd laps.” He added that he was not fully confident, especially without McLaren’s recognizable presence from recent events.
Kimi Antonelli’s Performance
On the other side of the Mercedes team, Kimi Antonelli reached Q3 after a challenging Friday. Finishing in seventh place, he identified key factors that hindered his performance. “Lap 1, I had on the main straight… We need to see what happened with the DRS but it didn’t open, so I lost a couple of tenths,” he explained.
- Qualifying Position: P4 – George Russell
- Sprint Finish: P2 – George Russell
- Q3 Finish: P7 – Kimi Antonelli
- Race Length: Approximately 50 laps
Antonelli also struggled with understeer during his final lap, making it tougher to achieve a better time. He concluded, “It’s a shame because I was hoping for better, but we look forward to tomorrow.”
Looking Ahead
The unpredictability of the Austin circuit adds an element of excitement as both drivers prepare for the main event. With changing weather conditions expected, teams will need to adapt their strategies accordingly. Russell and Antonelli are focused on maximizing their performance and potential in the race.
