Russell’s Strategy Decision: Less to Lose Than Lewis

Mercedes F1 clarifies its strategy for George Russell, highlighting the tactical reasons behind their recent race decisions.

George Russell’s decision to employ a one-stop strategy and the absence of the customary “cool-down” lap at Spa, which allows drivers to pick up extra weight by running over used tire debris, were both cited as key factors in his disqualification.

These factors were taken into account by Andy Shovlin, Mercedes F1’s chief track engineer.

“The assumption in the paddock that we had forgotten there was no victory lap at Spa was incorrect, rest assured, we are well aware and are consistently reminded by the FIA of the post-race procedures for each circuit. So, dismiss that, it wasn’t what cost George the weight but it could indeed have saved him.”

Shovlin emphasized that Russell “had less to lose” than his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, by switching to a one-stop. He was on track to finish fourth at best until his decision to pursue an alternative strategy.

“It was a decision made by the strategy team. For Lewis, it was a straightforward decision to pit as he was leading the race and had [Charles] Leclerc behind.”

“Leclerc wasn’t within undercut range, but once he stopped with fresh tires, he would have undercut us if we hadn’t brought Lewis in.”

“When you are leading a race and the car in second place stops, it is quite normal for you to cover that because that’s how you maintain your position on track, and he was one of the major threats.”

“George had less to lose. If we had stopped George around the same time as Lewis, he would have had to finish around fifth or sixth place. Maybe he would have finished fourth, but we were expecting him to catch up to Sergio [Perez], yet he was still in the same battle as before with Max [Verstappen] and Lando [Norris].”

“By staying out longer, it allowed George to fight for a podium position.”

“He very kindly informed us that the tires had stabilized, they didn’t seem to be dropping off in pace, and he asked if we thought a one-stop was feasible.”

“Based on the wear we had seen during the initial stops and Lewis’s middle stint, we could see that it was possible to make it to the end of the race on hard tires.”

“He did an excellent job of conserving them. It wasn’t our plan on Sunday morning to use this strategy, but it was a good reaction by the strategy team and George himself during the race to adapt to what we were seeing, the lower degradation, and to take advantage of it.”

“Now it remains to determine, as I said (read here), the exact reasons for the missing weight.”