George Russell claims remarkable podium at Baku
In a weekend where many of the top drivers showcased dramatic highs and lows, George Russell quietly stood out, demonstrating resilience and consistency in challenging circumstances. Despite remaining under the radar for much of the action, the Englishman delivered a masterclass in composure and strategic intelligence.
Russell missed the media day in Baku due to a severe bout of influenza and, according to Toto Wolff, wasn’t even certain if he would be able to take part in the race. Gritting his teeth in qualifying, he secured a valuable fifth-place starting position. During the race, he executed the perfect strategy, beginning on hard tyres, managing them for 39 laps, and using an overcut to overtake teammate Kimi Antonelli, as well as Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz.
George Russell opens up on the weekend
The #63 driver admitted that under normal circumstances, he might not have raced: “Fortunately, it was Baku. Even though it’s one of the most challenging circuits, mentally and physically it’s perhaps one of the easier ones. During the race, I felt much better, but Friday and Saturday were really tough. If it had been the Singapore GP, for example, I don’t think I would have driven on Friday, and I wouldn’t have been able to race.” – he pointed out at the end of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
“Honestly, I don’t think we had a spectacular weekend. Of course, Carlos did a fantastic job, and Liam also performed very well by qualifying ahead of us,” Russell added. “But all the cars we normally battle made mistakes, and we were able to take advantage of the situation. So, overall, I’m really happy to finish second. Additionally, I think the cooler temperatures worked in our favor a little.”
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