George Russell stays under the radar but keeps scoring big. Another sharp drive earns him a second straight podium in Shanghai.
The Mercedes F1 driver secured his second consecutive P3 finish at the Chinese Grand Prix, delivering yet another strong and efficient performance. While others grabbed headlines, Russell quietly maximized every opportunity, once again proving why he’s one of the most consistent drivers on the grid this season.
“I feel like I got everything out of the car this weekend,” Russell said post-race. “Qualifying went really well—I managed to split the McLarens—and the race itself was solid.”
He quickly recognized the strategy would be a one-stop race, which slightly limited opportunities, but still executed flawlessly. “I was hoping the cars ahead would go for two stops, but it was pretty clear early on they wouldn’t. Still, finishing well ahead of Max and both Ferraris is a really strong result.”
Russell’s weekend was built on a standout qualifying session, where he managed to outpace a McLaren, Verstappen, and the Ferraris—setting himself up perfectly for the race.
“That was key,” he admitted. “I lost a spot to Lando at Turn 1, and Oscar defended well after that. I tried a move on the inside, but he covered it nicely. Honestly, if we had started behind Max and the Ferraris, we probably wouldn’t be on the podium today. So that qualifying session made the difference.”
Despite the strong result, Russell acknowledged Mercedes is still trailing McLaren in race pace. But he has high praise for the orange cars—and sees exactly where they’re excelling.
“Their strength is clearly tire management. One-stop races seem easy for them right now. In hotter conditions like Melbourne or Bahrain, they looked even stronger. So, full credit to them—they’re doing a great job. But we’re working hard to close that gap.”
In an unexpected twist, Andrea Kimi Antonelli was voted Driver of the Day by fans. While Russell might have flown under the radar once again, he remains focused on the bigger picture—team progress and long-term consistency.
“Congrats to Kimi. He’s learning fast, and it’s great to see. But for us, it’s all about catching McLaren. They’re the team to beat right now. We’ve had strong results in the last few races—if you include the Sprint, we’ve maximized everything possible. That’s a big positive.”
And if Mercedes delivers a car capable of challenging at the front?
“I have no doubt we can win. We’re working well as a team, we’re consistent, and we’re ready to fight when the car allows it. We just have to keep pushing.”
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Consistent Russell Keeps Pressure On McLaren Duo
Consistent Russell Keeps Pressure On McLaren Duo
