“No need to apologize, we’re in this together” – George Russell was the victim of a Williams mechanical failure as he DNF and failed to open his points account for this season.
George Russell had real hopes of a point or two today after he started the Styrian Grand Prix in P10. But the Williams reliability issues played a hand and he had to retire at Lap 38, due to a power unit failure. Williams have 0 points this season, and the anguish was felt all across the team garage.
George Russell on ‘typical’ Williams
Russell is primed to take the ‘other’ seat in Mercedes next season alongside Lewis Hamilton, and he gave a fine audition this weekend. After Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly clashed on the opening lap to move Russell into P8, he held on his own despite stiff competition, and was even edging closer to the Alpine of former champion Fernando Alonso.
Speaking to Ziggo Sport, Russell couldn’t hide his appointment and his terrible luck with the team. Williams still remain in P9, just ahead of Haas, in the constructors’ championship.
“It’s such a shame. Racing is never easy. It’s never… fair is not the right word. You make your own luck, and ultimately, something went wrong today.
“But for us, we’re not here consistently, and it’s just typical. I don’t really know what to think or to say to be honest. It’s such a shame for everybody on the team. They’ve worked so hard for this, and it’s been such a long time coming.
“These points today would have been massive, not just for the morale, but if I finished P8 or P7 – I think P7 was probably possible, I was quicker than Alonso – four or six points in the constructors’ would have been massive. Absolutely massive for us.”
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