Russell thanks Williams as team change two gearboxes and an engine in 24 hours

In brief

Russell: “It looked unlikely we would make it out in qualifying”

“In the space of 24 hours, the mechanics changed two gearboxes and an engine,” he explained. “At one point it looked unlikely we would make it out in qualifying altogether, so that would have meant a pit lane start. Whereas here we are, the guys did a great job, we got out, got into Q2.”

Russell is set to start the Mexico City Grand Prix 16th, following a five-place penalty for one of the gearbox replacements, which he described as “a good spot.”

Rear locking caused Giovinazzi’s Q2 barrier brush

Antonio Giovinazzi said that his brief collision with a TecPro barrier during Q2, which he was able to drive away from, came as a result of losing control of the rear of his car.

“I just locked the rear on braking,” he explained. “I think was a good lap until there. Not for Q3 but for P11. But I locked the rear and lost the rear at the corner.

Still, Giovinazzi said he expected to start the Mexico City Grand Prix “from not a bad position” and with a chance of a badly-needed points score. “With all the penalties we start P12 I think so we still can do it,” he said. “We’ll see tomorrow.”

Alonso rues red flag after Q1 exit

“The first lap before the red flag was very fast,” he said. “It was like a 17.7, which was enough to go through Q1. But unfortunately that didn’t count in that moment.

“Then we chose to do only one run, as a team. We were the only team doing the one run, and I don’t know if that was too optimistic but it is the way it is.”

Davidson ends racing career

Former BAR, Minardi, Honda and Super Aguri F1 driver and Mercedes F1 simulator driver Anthony Davidson has retired from racing, following the conclusion of this year’s World Endurance Championship.

Davidson started 24 grands prix between 2002 and 2008 but never finished in the top 10. He went on to drive in sports car racing up until this year, when he announced he would end his competitive career after his final race in LMP2 for Jota Sport.

He took the chequered flag second in class with team mates Antonio Felix da Costa and Roberto Gonzalez in yesterday’s finale at Bahrain International Circuit.

Former Williams-Toyota driver and three-time Le Mans winner Kazuki Nakajima also parted ways with Toyota’s WEC hypercar programme, following the end of the 2021 WEC season.

Social media

Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:

Nothing I can do more than that…

— 角田裕毅/Yuki Tsunoda (@yukitsunoda07) November 6, 2021

Wing repairs on Verstappen’s Red Bull. That’s never a good thing just before qualifying. I’ve been there and I can assure you it's nerve wracking

— Gary Anderson (@GaryAndersonF1) November 6, 2021

.@kazuki_info's final time behind the wheel for us. 😢

Thank you for the past decade Kazuki. ❤️#GoHyper #ToyotaGAZOORacing #8HBahrain @FIAWEC pic.twitter.com/meNMQbZ4NE

— TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WEC (@TGR_WEC) November 6, 2021

Stepping out of a racecar for the last time as a professional racing driver.

Take a bow @antdavidson ,you've been phenomenal!#ThankYouAnt #WEC #JOTA pic.twitter.com/hXYPpLGdAe

— Jota Sport (@JotaSport) November 6, 2021

@antdavidson To this day, you remain the best teammate I've ever had. I wish you all the very best in whatever comes next. #classact pic.twitter.com/p7ZvKuJKbX

— Sébastien Bourdais (@BourdaisOnTrack) November 6, 2021

• Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory

Links

Motor racing links of interest:

Villeneuve and Pironi Formula 1 'Betrayal' To Be Spotlighted In Doc From Noah Media Group and Sky Studios; Mark Webber To Exec (Deadline)

"Villeneuve and Pironi will focus on an intense two-week period in the early 1980s that became known as ‘The Betrayal.’ The film will feature interviews with those closest to the two men, with premiere date set for late next year."

2021 FR Americas Champion Kyffin Simpson wins race two at COTA (Formula Regional Americas)

"Kyffin Simpson confirmed the 2021 title for the Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda during yesterday’s opening race of the weekend, but it took until this morning for him to really celebrate. Simpson, 17, climbed atop the podium after winning the second race of the weekend at Circuit of The Americas."

We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.

Comment of the day

Leroy says Yuki Tsunoda should be more worried about the long term, rather than immediate, consequences of Red Bull management’s reaction to his role in their drivers’ Q3 laps.

Tsunoda should be worried but not because he did anything wrong in this case.

I watched the replay and he gave Perez a huge amount of room by going completely off track long before Perez arrived on the scene. Perez just screwed up the corner.

But Tsunoda should be worried that Red Bull seem all too willing to throw him under the bus for Perez’s mistake. That doesn’t bode well for his future prospects in the organisation.
@g-funk

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Alonsowdc, Paul and Claidheamh!

On this day in motorsport

• Born today in 1956: Jonathan Palmer. He won the 1983 F2 championship and started 82 F1 races – son Jolyon took the 2014 GP2 title and raced in 35 grands prix.