George Russell and Lewis Hamilton each struggled within the Dutch Grand Prix as Ferrari moved forward of Mercedes within the Constructors’ Championship
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After a less-than-impressive efficiency on the Dutch Grand Prix, George Russell says that Mercedes should “look into” the explanation why they fell behind Ferrari within the race.
Regardless of being seen as F1 heavyweights, the group discovered themselves floundering on Sunday as they now look to the Italian Grand Prix to make amends. In the meantime, Lando Norris threw a spanner within the works for Max Verstappen’s title hopes as he sailed to victory.
In stark distinction, it was a day of head-scratching for Mercedes with Russell solely managing to take seventh place and Lewis Hamilton following intently at eighth. A baffled Russell shared his ideas after the race, admitting he “does not perceive” what went unsuitable for his normally formidable group.
He referred to as the race “odd” and was notably greatly surprised by how Charles Leclerc managed to overhaul him. Russell, who celebrated victory on the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this season, completed behind his Monegasque rival regardless of beating him in observe and in qualifying at Zandvoort.
“We have been there the final six races so that is undoubtedly an outlier. Performances can swing circuit to circuit however this does really feel a little bit bit odd,” Russell mentioned. Regardless of a promising begin from P4, the British driver struggled to maintain tempo with the leaders, and added: “Unusual how we are able to win three of the final 4, combating in Montreal and all of those locations, after which immediately end 50 seconds behind the win as we speak so we have to look into it.”
“I do not actually perceive what’s occurred in all honesty, it was on all three tyres, we have been simply gradual on all three and simply going backwards. It is bizarre how we may qualify fourth and we have been constantly behind the three vehicles in entrance and one forward of Ferrari however as we speak all of it simply disappeared.”
Russell additionally shared his battle with grip in the course of the race: “I do not know what it was, it simply felt like I had no grip, I used to be sliding round like I used to be on ice. One thing to do with the tyres, one thing unsuitable, someplace, however proper now I am scratching my head a little bit bit to know why.”
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Hamilton, too, acknowledged that each he and the automotive have been less than par, suggesting a joint duty for the disappointing consequence: “[It was] partly me, partly the automotive,” he mentioned.
Echoing Russell’s sentiments, Hamilton identified that the automotive’s efficiency had dipped for the reason that final race: “The automotive actually did not really feel as sturdy because the final race – we have to look into that.”
Verstappen was eyeing a fourth consecutive win at his dwelling race. Nevertheless, Norris expertly manoeuvred the monitor to assert his second F1 profession victory, leaving Verstappen in P2, closing the championship race to 70 factors.
Leclerc secured third place, whereas Oscar Piastri took fourth. The F1 now strikes on to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, September 1.
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