Misery George Melbourne! Mercedes star Russell is forced out of the Australian Grand Prix with his car on fire after leading the race briefly after the first corner before dropping to seventh with an ill-timed pit stop.
George Russell suffered a nightmare of coming out at the Melbourne Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon – after leading the race.
Russell and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton started second and third respectively, behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen.
Both British drivers passed the Red Bull star at the first two corners in the surprise opening of the race in Australia.
But Russell’s lead was short-lived, as a safety car came out after Charles Leclerc hit the gravel at the first corner, and then again when Alex Albon was forced to end the race on lap six.
The 25-year-old entered the pit stops early but a red flag relegated him to seventh place – before his troubles continued down the line.
George Russell (R) had a disastrous day at the Melbourne Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon
The Mercedes driver had briefly led the race after passing Max Verstappen
He fell to seventh after a red flag following an early pit stop, before his car caught fire
The Briton looked burned as he walked away from his car, with smoke billowing from his W12
Russell said: “I just started to slow down. I was flat on the throttle and the car wasn’t accelerating. I saw puffs of smoke in the mirrors and it was game over.
“It’s such a shame to be in this situation in the first place, after that red flag, I felt completely unnecessary.
“In the same way that I felt last week that the safety car in Saudi Arabia was completely unnecessary – so I don’t really know what’s going on with these race-control decisions.”
“A red flag effectively means that any driver wants to get a ‘free’ pit stop, and waste less time than they would without a red flag.
Mercedes’ strategic decision seemed quite smart, but stopping after the gravel on the track changed the situation dramatically.
Russell then became the third car in the race to be forced to retire. In what appears to be a power unit problem, his car suddenly slows, flames licking at the back of the car.
Russell then jumped out of the car as smoke billowed into the sky, and called the race mechanic.
He looked devastated as he walked away after a disastrous finish to his race – none of it his fault.
