Russell praises Mercedes recovery after “worst Friday in three years”

George Russell has praised his Mercedes Formula 1 team for recovering form what he called our “worst Friday in probably three years.”

Russell and team mate Lewis Hamilton both struggled on the first day of running in Singapore, with the latter admitting that the team was lost, and suggesting that making Q3 would be a struggle.

However overnight work both in Singapore and back at the Brackley factory produced set-up changes that worked in FP3, and saw Russell as high as second.

In qualifying Hamilton earned third spot, with Russell right behind him in fourth, with only Lando Norris and Ma Verstappen ahead.

Mercedes posted pictures of reserve driver Frederik Vesti and members of the Brackley sim team, thanking them for their “huge shift.”

Russell made it clear that the changes they tried had worked.

“Absolutely, an incredible turnaround from yesterday,” he said when asked by formu1a.uno if it was one of the best recoveries that the team has made.

“It was without doubt our worst Friday in probably three years. And this morning I was second, comfortably ahead of everyone bar Lando and the car was, night and day difference. So credit to all the team for the work we did.”

Regarding the contribution of Vesti and his colleagues Russell said: “Immense, immense. It’s not only the people on the sim, but it’s the people going through the data, all through the night. The engineers even here, through the night, literally as well. So, yeah, great turnaround.

“It was just we were totally in the wrong window with the setup. We were trying some things yesterday, maybe not the right place to do it. And, yeah, clearly we turned around.”

Russell had a couple of escape road moments as he pushed the limits of the improved car in FP3.

“I had good confidence,” he said. “I was just seeing if there was anything more in the tank. There wasn’t. Before the session, I was hoping for a bit more, but after Q1 and Q2 very happy to salvage a P4.”

Russell will start Sunday’s race immediately ahead of Oscar Piastri: “He’s going be the main threat from behind. I hope that Lewis and I can take a fight to Max. But realistically, if Lando is leading after lap one, he’ll win the race comfortably.