Russell 'Surprised' by Rival Pace as Mercedes Struggles in Miami Sprint Qualifying
"I think we were just outperformed by the others, to be honest."
George Russell finished sixth in Sprint Qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix, a result that left the Mercedes driver acknowledging the significant progress made by rival teams.
McLaren and Ferrari Set the Pace
Lando Norris secured pole position for the Sprint, with both McLaren and Ferrari showcasing substantial pace thanks to their respective upgrade packages. The performance of these teams caught Russell off guard.
A Difficult Friday Sets the Stage
Mercedes entered Sprint Qualifying on the back foot after encountering issues during Friday's practice session. This disrupted their preparation and put the team in a reactive position heading into the high-pressure qualifying session.
Russell Points to Competitors, Not Car Issues
Russell attributed his struggles directly to the performance of his competitors rather than any specific mechanical problem with his own car. He emphasised that the speed of McLaren and Ferrari in particular was the primary factor in his sixth-place finish, not a lack of performance from the Mercedes W15.