George Russell uncovers Russian explanation for Canada bet
George Russell has uncovered recollections of last season’s Russian Grand Prix were at the core of his Canadian smooth tire bet that neglected to receive a comparable benefit.
With the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve beginning to dry following prior downpour, the Mercedes driver changed from transitional tires to softs in a bid to arrange on the first line of the matrix.
It was an essential gamble that delivered attractive profits for Russell in last year’s race at Sochi when he scored a staggering third on the matrix in an uncompetitive Williams.
There was to be no recurrent in Montreal, in any case, as on his most memorable flying lap on the delicate tires, the Briton cut a wet piece of the track that turned him onto the grass where he slid in reverse and poked an obstruction with his back wing.
Russell in the long run qualified eighth for Sunday’s Grand Prix, procuring high commendation from group head Toto Wolff who depicted the call as “bold”.
“We had a decent vehicle, and I saw the dry line showing up,” said Russell. “It just takes one corner to let you down and that, as far as I might be concerned, was turn one and two.
“It occurred at Sochi last year when I was one of three drivers to go from entombs to slicks and I qualified P3 with Williams. It’s high gamble, high award.
“I need to battle for post position and haven’t arrived to agree to P3 or P4.”
Further making sense of why he had settled on the decision, Russell added: “I was amazed in Monaco how rapidly it progressed.
“I’ve been amazed on different events how rapidly it has changed. It simply takes a portion of a dry line and everything changes.
“A portion of the track was thoroughly dry, one more quarter there was a little dry line and afterward the
last quarter – turns one and two – it was simply coming.
“As I said, it simply takes the one corner. By the day’s end, we’re here to battle for more.”