George Russell explained his team radio angling for a tow off Max Verstappen amid the final runs of Formula 1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying session, with an admission that he “over-pushed” on his own laps.
The Mercedes driver will line up fourth in Sunday’s grand prix at the Yas Marina Circuit alongside championship hopeful Oscar Piastri, although hoped to better his position with a little help from Verstappen.
Russell had headlined FP3 to announce that he was in the mix, and did so again in Q2 with his final lap of that session – putting the championship leaders in a state of fear – or, in pole-winner Verstappen’s case, delight – that the Briton could shape up as an interloper amid the top four.
Suggesting that it would be in Verstappen’s interest to help him out, Russell explained that a radio message telling his team to time his pit exit among the final runs of Q3 to coincide with the four-time champion’s in-lap, adding that “he’ll probably give me a tow” in the process.
Should Verstappen preserve his lead into Turn 1 and convert it into victory, he needs two cars between himself and Lando Norris to win the title.
“It was more of a hint to Red Bull on their pitwall to sort of consider it,” Russell explained of his radio message. “Max went early in Q3 Run 1, so he kind of was in a position to do that, and they obviously need somebody in the mix.”
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Ultimately, Russell was not able to ensconce himself within the top three as his Q3 laps were both defined by moments where the rear end had got loose. On his opening run of the top-10 shootout, Russell had to gather up the rear on the exit of Turn 14 and narrowly missed the Armco barrier looming large on the outside of the track.
When Russell made his second attempt in Q3, which had not been timed with Verstappen’s in-lap as the Red Bull driver went out later into the session, he again had to corral a wriggling rear end as he ran across the exit kerb at the final corner. He put this down to over-driving in his run, having felt he needed to push harder to fight the eventual top three owing to their new-tyre delta between Q2 and Q3.
He added that he expected Verstappen to try to back up the McLarens should he leave the opening corner with the lead, and sensed that opportunities could come his way as a result.
“It was tricky, to be honest,” he said. “I think, realistically, I knew we weren’t in the fight with the top three. I was top of Q2, but those three drivers were on the used tyre, so I over-pushed in Q3.
“It wasn’t a clean session, but the result was never going to be higher than before.
“If we finish lap one in the order we start the race, then definitely [Max is] not just going to drive off into the distance and hand Lando an easy podium.
“But everything can change after lap one. If Lando makes a good start and gets the lead, the championship’s done and dusted. We’re not at the pace, but I’m confident there’ll be opportunities.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
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