Russell: 'Obviously totally the wrong decision'

George Russell explains his decision to go to slicks during the Singapore race as brave, but agrees it was the wrong choice. In conversation with Motorsport.com he further looks back on the remarkable choice.

This weekend's Singapore Grand Prix was not a good race for Russell. The 11th starting position after a disappointing qualifying session turned into a pit start as his engine was tinkered with. During the race, Russell also collided with Mick Schumacher, after which the Mercedes driver could not get away from the rear and eventually finished 14th.

But surely the most distinctive feature of Russell's race was the early decision to switch to slicks. While the entire field was still running on intermediate tyres on the wet track, Russell switched to the slick tyres early on. It turned out to be the wrong choice: the Mercedes slid and skidded across the track, and soon he was almost a minute behind the lead car. Only in the final stages of the race did the slick tyre prove to have an advantage over the intermediate, but at that point, it was already too late for Russell to take any points.

'We had to try something anyway'

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Russell reflects back on this choice. "I thought, 'screw it, we have to try something'. I trusted the team, they trusted me, and they thought it was time to go to slicks. Obviously, it was totally the wrong decision at that moment." Still, Russell fully supports the reasoning. "In situations like this, you have to be audacious. On a track like this without DRS, the cars are nigh impossible to overtake. You have to try something."

In the end, Russell still managed to snatch the fastest lap from Sergio Perez. A small consolation, as Russell did not get an extra point for it as he finished lower than 10th place. Russell is currently just one point above Carlos Sainz in the championship standings.