13/06/2024
NEWS STORY
George Russell feels that the Canadian Grand Prix was a missed opportunity, while Toto Wolff warns against being "too greedy".
Not for the first time Russell made a needless mistake, indeed two, but recovered to claim third, ahead of his illustrious teammate, Lewis Hamilton.
Nonetheless, the youngster is fully aware that Canada was a missed opportunity.
Leading the race for the first 20 laps, the Mercedes driver was eventually passed by both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, however after the pitting frenzy that followed the first Safety Car he emerged in second behind the Dutchman but ahead of the McLaren.
During the second round of stops he lost out to Norris' overcut, but subsequently passed the McLaren driver only to run wide and lose control on a damp kerb, thereby handing the position back.
"Focus, George, focus," urged team boss Toto Wolff over the radio.
At their second stops the Mercedes pair had taken on hards (Russell) and mediums (Hamilton), but following the Sainz/Albon incident the pair opted to change yet again, with Russell now switching to mediums and his teammate hards.
At first Russell was losing out on the yellow-banded rubber and having lost out to Piastri when he pitted, the youngster was now passed by his Mercedes teammate.
However, in the final laps, as his mediums came good he was able to pass Piastri and then his teammate in a move ahead of which he was ordered to "keep it clean".
Though he finished on the podium, Russell believes there was more on the table.
"It feels like a missed opportunity, to be honest," he said at race end. "We were really quick at the beginning of the race on the Inters, and then obviously Lando came through really fast.
"Then we got back on to the slicks, made a couple of mistakes out there just pushing the limits and paid the price for it," he added.
"Nevertheless, first podium of the year and we truly had a really fast car this weekend and to be back in the mix fighting for victory was really fun. When we put the mediums on at the end we were really, really fast and I think that mistake with Oscar when I tried overtaking him and I lost the position to Lewis cost us at least P2 and maybe we could have fought with Max later in the race."
Second yes, but Toto Wolff ruled out taking on the Red Bull.
"You mustn't be too greedy," he said. "We need to take the positives. The car has made a real step forward, we're bringing bits and the development direction is true."
"This pace increase that we've seen from us this weekend, it hasn't been a surprise to us because all the numbers back at the factory told us we're going to be finding a big chunk of performance with these upgrades," said Russell.
"So Barcelona is going to be interesting for everybody, but I'm confident we can be in the fight."