Russell’s Qualifying Setback
George Russell encountered a technical issue during the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session, leading him to stop his W17 car immediately after Q3. Mercedes later confirmed that a water leak was the cause of the problem. Russell is scheduled to begin Sunday’s race from seventh position on the grid.
The British driver explained that his final Q3 lap was compromised after hitting a bump at Turn 4. The impact resulted in water spraying onto the rear tyres, which rapidly reduced their temperature and affected his performance. While Russell acknowledged that a top-three finish was not a realistic expectation, he believed the issue likely cost him several grid positions.
Russell described the sequence of events, noting that the lap felt good until the bump. He then observed a sudden change in the car’s behaviour. The team later informed him about the water leak, which was visible in the data, showing a rapid drop in rear tyre temperatures.
Following the qualifying session, Russell was asked about concerns regarding the engine’s reliability. He stated that it was too early to draw conclusions but indicated that the team would investigate the matter further.
Power Unit Change and Grid Position
After conducting additional checks, Mercedes decided to install a new power unit in Russell’s car for the upcoming race. This marks his fourth engine of the season, a change that falls within the permitted allocation. Since the replacement involves swapping a damaged component for one of the same specification, Russell will not incur a grid penalty for the change.
Despite the technical issue, Russell expressed frustration with Mercedes‘ overall pace during qualifying. He admitted that the car was not quick enough to compete with McLaren and Ferrari when it mattered most. He mentioned that despite making overnight improvements after Friday’s practice sessions, the team struggled to get the car to perform optimally in qualifying conditions. Strong winds and variable track conditions at the Hungaroring also made it challenging to find a balanced setup.
Russell had hoped for a stronger performance after a better FP3 session, but he ultimately finished more than half a second behind Lando Norris, who secured pole position.
Other Qualifying Incidents
The qualifying session also saw another incident involving a Mercedes driver. Kimi Antonelli came under investigation for a potential yellow-flag infringement after securing fourth place on the grid. This investigation stemmed from Max Verstappen‘s spin at the final corner during his last Q3 run, which prompted yellow flags and forced Russell to abandon his final flying lap.
Despite the yellow flags, Antonelli managed to find more time on the same lap, securing his fourth-place starting position behind polesitter Lando Norris and the Ferrari pair of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Both Russell and Max Verstappen expressed disappointment after missing out on pole position, despite showing promising speed earlier in the weekend. Norris ultimately claimed pole for McLaren, while Verstappen finished sixth and Russell seventh. Both drivers attributed their performances to different factors as they reflected on their missed opportunities for the front rows.
Verstappen’s frustrations were also evident, with the driver describing his RB22 as “undriveable” on team radio due to traction issues in his final laps. However, Verstappen remains optimistic that his race pace could provide an opportunity to recover on Sunday, especially given the strategic challenges of overtaking on the track. Both Russell and Verstappen anticipate a tough race in the Hungarian Grand Prix, with Norris starting from pole and Ferrari also in contention. They have not ruled out a comeback, relying on strategy and race pace over 70 laps, as tyre degradation is expected to be a significant factor.
Source: gpblog.com
