George Russell expressed satisfaction with his fourth-place grid position for the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix, acknowledging that Mercedes exceeded expectations despite lacking the outright pace of the leading trio.
A surprisingly strong result
After the F1 Mexico City GP Qualifying concluded at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Russell reflected on a session that saw him line up ahead of championship leader Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The result represented a welcome boost for the Mercedes driver, who recognised the competitive nature of the midfield battle.
“Yeah, I mean, the order is a little bit surprising,” Russell admitted. “Ordinarily, if we were behind two Ferraris, we’d probably be lining up P5 or P6 on the grid. Whereas P4, I think it was a decent result.”
The British driver emphasised just how tight the margins were in the closely-fought qualifying session, with multiple drivers separated by minimal time gaps. “And I think those three were out of reach. But it was so close between me and… I think Oscar was only a tenth behind me, and he was in P8. So, glad to be on the right side of it.”
Turn 1 crucial for Sunday’s race
Looking ahead to Sunday’s Grand Prix, Russell acknowledged that Mercedes have encouraging race pace but remained realistic about the challenge facing him off the line. When asked about his prospects for the race, the 27-year-old was frank about the importance of the opening lap.
“Race pace is good, but I don’t want to be… Yeah, I don’t want to be negative, but I think Turn 1, lap 1, is going to be very important,” Russell said. “But there’s still always chances, and you’ve got two Ferraris.”
The Mercedes driver hinted at potential strategic opportunities that could play into his hands during the race, particularly with Ferrari running both cars in the top positions and McLaren‘s drivers separated on the grid.
“Maybe they can offset the strategy to put pressure on the McLaren. And equally, those two can’t pit on the same lap. So, maybe I can undercut one of them. Who knows?” Russell mused.
With Piastri starting from seventh position after Carlos Sainz’s grid penalty, and Verstappen starting fifth after a mixed F1 Mexico City GP Qualifying session, Russell finds himself well-positioned to capitalise on any opportunities that arise. However, he’ll need to navigate the chaotic first lap at one of Formula 1’s most dramatic opening corners if he’s to challenge for a podium finish.
The stage is set for an intriguing strategic battle on Sunday, with Russell hoping Mercedes’ race pace can translate into a strong result at the high-altitude circuit.
