Former F1 Star Criticizes George Russell's "Negligence" for Mercedes' Setback at Singapore GP
George Russell endured a disastrous conclusion to the Singapore Grand Prix, as he crashed on the last lap, losing out on what appeared to be a secure third-place finish, which was subsequently seized by his teammate, Lewis Hamilton.
Former Formula 1 star Timo Glock has criticized George Russell for his "lack of caution" after Russell experienced a heartbreaking conclusion to the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver was on the verge of securing only his second-ever F1 victory as he entered the final lap on Sunday, with at least a third-place finish appearing almost certain. However, after brushing against the barrier while entering Turn 10, Russell ended up crashing, allowing his teammate Lewis Hamilton to snatch third place. This incident cost Mercedes valuable points as the world championship heads into its final seven rounds.
Clearly distraught and fighting back tears, Russell was left "devastated" by his last-minute mistake, and Timo Glock has suggested that the 25-year-old exhibited a lack of discipline on the 62nd lap. In his column for Sky Germany, the former Toyota star wrote, "Mercedes went all-in on George Russell, placing all their bets on him to win. Russell was pushing hard to close the gap to the front and contend for a podium or even victory. Then, a slight lapse of caution occurred, something that can happen to even a driver of Russell's caliber. Up until that point, he had driven a flawless race. On a street circuit like Singapore, a split-second lapse in judgment can lead to an error, even on the final lap."
Russell remained visibly emotional when evaluating his performance and conducted an emotional interview with Sky Sports. "Honestly, there are no words," the British driver confessed. "It was such a long and challenging race.
"It's difficult to maintain focus when Carlos [Sainz] was effectively backing up the pack, not allowing us to pursue an alternative strategy. I believe we were just inches away from winning the race if I had managed to pass Lando [Norris] when I had the opportunity.
"I believe we could have overtaken Carlos [Sainz]. However, on the final lap, a momentary lapse of concentration, a fraction of a second, and it's all over. I'm genuinely sorry to the entire team.
"It was a very demanding race with the tires degrading, pushing the boundaries. This is how racing is supposed to be, and a small mistake can have consequences. It's heartbreaking after such a fantastic weekend. The car felt great, the qualifying was great, and we took bold steps with the strategy. I feel like I've disappointed myself and the team. It's tough. But we'll bounce back."
>>> Read more: Wolff Describes A Non-Red Bull Win As A 'refreshing Change' For Formula 1
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