The unseen issue that may have cost George Russell pole at F1 Las Vegas GP

George Russell has revealed he suffered a steering drawback in his Mercedes throughout qualifying on the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The Briton seemed on track to assert pole place in Sin Metropolis for the second yr working after topping closing observe and setting the tempo in moist situations in each Q1 and Q2.

Russell in the end ended up fourth and eight tenths down after his Mercedes developed a problem with its steering within the closing a part of qualifying, leaving the five-time grand prix winner to lament a “missed alternative”.

“I had a steering concern in Q3,” Russell defined. “I do not know what it was. It was like an influence steering concern.

“It was an actual disgrace, clearly. I used to be quickest in P3, quickest in Q1, quickest in Q2 and on my second lap, I believed I needed to cease the automobile on monitor, as a result of I could not flip the steering correctly.

“So I do not know what it was. I really feel lucky to have certified P4, contemplating. However in fact, it appears like a missed alternative.”

Nightmare qualifying for Antonelli

Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli endured a torrid qualifying and was eradicated in Q1 with a time solely ok for seventeenth on the grid.

It marked a blow for the 19-year-old Italian, who has improved his type of late and claimed a maiden grand prix podium final trip in Brazil.

“It was very slippery,” Antonelli stated. “The final lap was going to be ok for prime 5, and I took some margin within the final braking simply to keep away from any dangerous surprises, and simply nonetheless ended up locking up and shedding the lap, and obtained knocked out.

“Two laps earlier than I used to be in P5, I feel, after which clearly to finish up P17 could be very irritating.”

Nevertheless, the F1 rookie insisted the setback hasn’t dented his confidence.

“We have been sturdy all weekend and we have been very quick, like, each session, even this morning on the inter, so it does not damage my confidence,” he burdened.

“Clearly, we’re nonetheless within the good momentum and simply have to do race tomorrow after which concentrate on the subsequent one.”