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George Russell Set to Start US GP From Pit Lane After Parc Ferme Rule Violation

Somin Bhattacharjee
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George Russell of Mercedes before the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit in Northampton, Great Britain

The United States GP weekend keeps getting from bad to worse for George Russell, who after crashing in qualifying on Saturday, will now have to start the race from the pit lane.

Following his teammate Lewis Hamilton’s Q1 exit, Russell managed to get into Q3, where an impact with the barriers brought out the red flag. He was P6, and that’s where he thought he would start his 2024 COTA (Circuit of the Americas) adventure. Unfortunately for him, his team had to change parts of his car that didn’t comply with the FIA’s parc ferme regulations.

Mercedes reportedly brought an upgraded floor to Austin, which Russell damaged during his qualifying crash. They did not have spare parts for the same either, which meant that the Silver Arrows had to revert to the W15 spec from Singapore last month.

According to the FIA’s rules, all cars have to be ‘covered up’ after a maximum of two hours following a qualifying session. This means that no work can be done on them, but Mercedes was forced to because of Russell’s crash.

According to Sky Sports, sources from Mercedes said, “Following George’s accident in qualifying, we had to work on the car overnight during the cars covered period. He will therefore start from the pit lane today.” 

For the Brackley-based outfit, this would be a disaster. Hamilton is already set to start from P18 [which will be P17 after Russell’s pit lane start] — his worst-ever starting position — at COTA. And with Russell lining up from the pit lane, there won’t be a lot of hope left for a big weekend at the Mercedes garage.

Post Edited By:Aishwary Gaonkar

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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