Whereas delighted to have break up the 2 McLarens in qualifying on the Chinese language Grand Prix, George Russell believes will probably be a tall order to get the higher of each within the race.
Oscar Piastri secured the primary grand prix pole place of his profession on Saturday, beating teammate Lando Norris who was provisionally second in Q3. Russell then secured a entrance row begin together with his remaining try and admits the lap shocked him after struggling to get his tires in the precise working window.
“It feels unimaginable, to be sincere,” Russell mentioned. “It was one of many hardest quali classes I’ve achieved in a protracted, very long time and I used to be attempting all kinds with my preparation, with the tires, and nothing gave the impression to be clicking. We did one thing completely totally different on that final lap and it simply all got here alive and the lap was superior. Simply so, so joyful to be P2.
“I used to be going quick on the out lap, gradual on the out lap, prepping the out lap… and the final one was a little bit of a roll of the cube. Had a giant second at Flip 1, nevertheless it simply all got here collectively and I used to be actually shocked once I crossed the road. I knew it was a very good lap, however to see that I used to be between the McLarens! Simply buzzing and searching ahead to tomorrow.”
Though Russell will solely have one automotive in entrance of him on the grid, and Lewis Hamilton received the Dash as Piastri may solely end second, the Mercedes driver is anxious he received’t have the tempo to combat with McLaren.
“It’s going to be robust. I believe the medium tire within the Dash was actually troublesome. I believe most drivers will begin on that on the entrance of the sphere tomorrow, after which the arduous, nobody’s run all weekend.
“So no person is aware of proper now if it’s going to be a one- or a two-stop. We all know that McLaren are going to be fast, however we’ll be doing every thing to attempt to keep the place we’re or attempt to soar forward of them. Ought to be loads of enjoyable.
“I believe [beating McLaren] can be a little bit of a stretch. It was a very troublesome race this morning. I do suppose they’re nonetheless a step forward of all people. Ferrari had been an actual shock within the Dash, however tomorrow’s a unique sport. And we’ve acquired the arduous tire no person’s run but so I count on a barely totally different consequence.”
