Formula 1 Spanish GP
George Russell explains how he ended up a lowly sixth in Madring F1 qualifying
Russell’s title bid takes another hit as he qualifies four spots behind team-mate Antonelli in Madrid
Ben Vinel
Edited: Sep 12, 2026, 10:57 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell has explained his poor qualifying performance in Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix, having ended up a lowly sixth while Mercedes team-mate and title rival Kimi Antonelli took second.
Russell set the pace in Q1 at Madrid’s new street circuit but failed to improve as significantly as his opponents in the next two segments. He was sixth-quickest, some three tenths down on his team-mate, in both Q2 and Q3.
Read Also:
But could this be linked to Russell brushing the wall with his front-left tyre in Q1, in very similar way to the incident that ended Alex Albon’s running in FP3 due to damage?
“I don't think so, because my following lap in Q1 we were quicker,” the Briton told Sky Sports F1.
He added, speaking to the written press: “Obviously, I was slightly concerned in the moment, but the car was fine. I went out on top of the session afterwards and then felt in the mix thereafter.
“But just the last lap, I was about three tenths up, tried pushing hard in Turn 11, the tyres couldn’t take it, and then [I] lost all the lap time thereafter. So that was a bit annoying.”
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
“It's a really tough circuit,” he also told Sky. “You almost need to drive a little bit below the limit, then extract that last little bit, and that cost me today.”
According to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, Russell was also hindered by numerous set-up changes at a Madring track where confidence was key.
“In qualifying, the rear axle was overheating, on top of everything,” Wolff told Austrian broadcaster ORF. “That wasn't the case before.
“He also took some front wing off before the session, then put it back in during the session. And then you don't really know what to expect from the car. Normally, on street circuits, you need to drive lap after lap to get closer to the walls. Changing the set-up obviously doesn't help with that.”
Russell does need a good result tomorrow, given he’s already 66 points adrift of Antonelli in the drivers’ standings, so can he make progress in the race?
“I think tyre deg is going to define it one way or another,” he told Sky. “It will either be no deg, and there will be a procession, or there will be really high deg, and it will be pretty chaotic. So that's for sure going to be the big moment.”
Additional reporting by Jake Boxall-Legge
Read Also:
Formula 1Lando Norris "shocked" to snatch F1 Spanish GP pole from Kimi Antonelli
Formula 1F1 Spanish GP: Lando Norris takes stunning pole at Madring
Photos from F1 Spanish GP - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Spanish Grand Prix - Saturday
Formula 1
37
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Lando Norris "shocked" to snatch F1 Spanish GP pole from Kimi Antonelli
Next article After Madring F1 crash, Arvid Lindblad insists: “I'm allowed to make mistakes”
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Ben Vinel
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
Formula 1 9 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
More from
George Russell
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1 17 h
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
George Russell launches karting academy
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
George Russell launches karting academy
More from
Mercedes
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
16 h
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Latest news
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
5 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 9 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe