George Russell has slammed the five-second time penalty awarded to him within the opening levels of the System 1 United States Grand Prix.
On a weekend the place Russell wanted to beat runaway championship chief Kimi Antonelli, fairly actually nothing went his approach.
Struggling in qualifying, he lined up seventh whereas Antonelli took pole place, hindering his possibilities earlier than he had even turned a wheel within the race.
His scenario declined additional after the stewards deemed that he left the observe and gained a bonus, leading to a five-second time penalty.
After being served within the pits, Russell spent the remainder of the race caught behind the McLaren of Oscar Piasti, coming dwelling in a disappointing seventh.
With Antonelli taking one more victory, the Italian solely requires a ninth place end in Mexico Metropolis this weekend to formally finish Russell’s title hopes.
After the race, Russell was a loss to clarify his lack of tempo, however slammed the penalty, labelling it “ridiculous”.
“The tempo wasn’t good within the first stint, and after I got here out of the pits on the hards, I most likely did six laps on the identical tempo as Kimi,” he stated to media, together with Motorsport Week.
“However then I caught as much as Oscar, and I simply couldn’t overtake, so six good laps, 50 unhealthy laps.
“I need to perceive why the tempo was so unhealthy within the first stint; the penalty was a bit ridiculous, however that was the least of my worries after such a foul weekend.
“I don’t have the solutions proper now, and I want to present it 24 hours to assume clearly.”
George Russell laments “slim” automobile working window
Russell additionally revealed a trait of the W17: it’s a problem to setup, with the slightest change successfully sealing off its efficiency window
“The window [with the car] is slim, and we noticed in Malaysia [Antonelli] was quickest in FP3 after which we certified fourth and eighth, after which this weekend, we had been each up there in Q2, after which I used to be nowhere in Q3 and nowhere within the race,” he stated.
“He was clearly exceptionally aggressive, and there are indicators the window may be very small.
“I hope that’s an evidence for my lack of tempo, however I have to dig deep with my group as a result of it’s obscure when you find yourself up to now off.”
Together with his title hopes all however gone, Russell is now concentrating on aiding Mercedes in sealing the Constructors’ Championship.
“For me, so long as we win the constructors’, that’s the principle factor,” Russell added.
“I’d like to complete as better of the remainder, however P2, P3, P5 will not be the champion, so it doesn’t imply something.”
Russell is aware of that with a 123-point deficit, and his teammate prone to turn into champion within the not-so-distant future, his focus should flip to consolidating his place and end runner-up within the title race.