Star F1 driver opens up on 'disaster' season
Star F1 driver opens up on 'disaster' season
George Russell has said that his performance in the drivers' championship this season has been a "real disaster", but that he is focused on helping his team in the constructors' championship.
The British driver currently finds himself eighth in the drivers' standings on 132 points, behind both Ferrari drivers, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and the McLaren's Lando Norris.
His team-mate Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, is up in third, 62 points ahead of Russell.
Russell's inconsistent season may have been summed up perfectly at the Qatar Grand Prix where was involved in an incident with Hamilton on the opening lap, leaving him right at the back of the field before showing tremendous pace to bring home fourth position.
Now, he has said that he is no longer focusing on the drivers' championship and instead has his eyes firmly set on helping the team stay ahead of Ferrari.
Russell's new goals
Mercedes are currently 28 points above Ferrari, with the title of being the 'best of the rest' up for grabs after Red Bull's supremely dominant season.
With Mercedes displaying great pace at the Losail International Circuit, it was disappointing for the team to only come away from Sunday's race. Hamilton's collision with Russell left the seven-time world champion in the gravel, whilst the damage to Russell forced the Briton to pit on the opening lap and fight for a measly 12 points.
"I feel sorry for the team after what happened in Qatar," Russell told the media after the race.
"But personally this season the drivers' championship was a real disaster. Now, my goal is to finish second in the constructors' world championship.
"The Qatar GP was a great opportunity, but I am still convinced that we will achieve this goal."
Mercedes will be looking forward to the United States Grand Prix in Austin Texas after qualifying third and fourth and finishing second and fifth at last year's race.
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Nyck De Vries
- Liam Lawson
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2023
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Australia 2023
- Grand Prix of China 2023
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2023
- Miami Grand Prix 2023
- Qatar Airways Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'emilia Romagna 2023
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2023
- AWS Gran Premio de España 2023
- Grand Prix du Canada 2023
- Grand Prix of Austria 2023
- Aramco Grand Prix of Great Britain 2023
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2023
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2023
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Italy 2023
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2023
- Grand Prix of Japan 2023
- Qatar Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of the United States 2023
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2023
- Rolex Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2023
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2023
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