George Russell was understandably pleased to get another podium in Baku, but warned that Mercedes should start getting there on merit instead of benefiting from retirement later.
The two Ferrari drivers withdrew from the race in Azerbaijan on Sunday, with a hydraulic problem by Carlos Sainz followed by a problem with the engine of Charles Leclerc who finished his race 20 laps.
Russell took full advantage of Ferrari’s problems to get his third podium of the season, but Mercedes is still comfortably slower than the first runners in a single lap and race equipment.
Russell’s label has changed this season, from being widely known as “Mr Saturday” to reflecting his impressive qualifying performances, to “Mr Consistent”, reflecting the fact that he is the only driver to have scored points in all races so far this season, finishing within the standings. the top five each time to boot.
He now has a comfortable quarter in the Drivers’ Championship, and Russell echoed Max Verstappen’s feeling that “you have to keep scoring” to have a chance in a title fight, adding: “You know, this is a championship. where you “I have had the opportunity to mark each race and no matter what speed your car is, if you are not scoring these points, your account will not increase.
Charles Leclerc’s last five races …
Imola: Classified P2, finished P6Miami: Classified P1, finished P2Spain: Classified P1, DNFMonaco: Classified P1, finished P4Baku: Classified P1, DNF # F1 pic.twitter.com/8ocUYBI7Tz
– PlanetF1 (@ Planet_F1) June 12, 2022
“So, as I said here, it’s a big job for everyone in the factories to deliver a reliable car, but we can’t continue to rely on the misfortune of others and we have to find more performance. And that’s what everyone does their best. to achieve”.
Russell was suffering from the effects of the porpoise, or bounce, that has affected Mercedes all season, but it was perhaps the worst it has been all season in Baku, with teammate Lewis Hamilton struggling to get out of his car in the end, he admits he was “killing my back” halfway through the race, and team manager Toto Wolff apologized because the car was a “sh * tbox” to drive at the time.
Although the 24-year-old has not talked as much about his problems as the seven-time world champion, he still has back pain and, like Hamilton, has set himself the goal of the UK Grand Prix in three weeks to wait. Mercedes found a solution.
“I think the car felt good to drive, to be honest,” he said. “It simply came to our notice then. The only challenge is just the bottom line, to be honest, I don’t think it matters what boat you’re on, you have the porpoise and you’re touching the ground.
“And if you don’t have a porpoise, you’re using the car millimeters to the ground and you’re hitting bottom. And I think yes, I’m feeling it in my back right now.
“However, as I said, we need to keep working hard to find more performance and understand what we need to do to unlock it. And yes, I don’t think we have any major updates or anything to try in Canada, but maybe for Silverstone will have a better idea. “