"Why's he not defending?": How Russell sank to fourth after stunning start

George Russell was frustrated his team mate didn’t put up more of a fight when they came under attack from Lando Norris in the McLaren during the Spanish Grand Prix.

George Russell, Mercedes, Circuit de Catalunya, 2024 — Russell made the start of the season on Sunday

Norris passed Lewis Hamilton on lap 32 of Sunday’s race, then closed on Russell and took him four laps later. The McLaren driver finished second ahead of the Mercedes pair.

Earlier in the race Russell was told the team’s “first priority” was keeping second place ahead of the McLaren. But after switching Russell to the hard tyres and realising he was going to come under threat from Charles Leclerc, the team advised him to ensure he had enough life left in his tyres to defend his position.

Russell was able to do that, but after taking the lead at the start of the race, returning to the fourth place he started from was always going to be a disappointment for him.

Russell’s Spanish Grand Prix radio

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Jump to:

“Verstappen pushing quite hard”
“Shout after turn 12 the gap”
“Target minus five”
“I feel I’m pushing a little bit too hard”
“These tyres feel okay”
“Why is he not defending?”
“Priority will be having rubber remaining”
“Heads up earlier”
“Leclerc expected to be a threat”
“It’s all going in the right direction”

“Verstappen pushing quite hard”

Start, Circuit de Catalunya, 2024 — Russell swept around Norris and Verstappen to take the lead

Russell stunned Max Verstappen and Lando Norris by sweeping around the outside of them to take the lead at the start. In a race where tyre management was going to be key in the early stages, Russell was struck how hard Vertappen was pushing to take the lead:

Lap: 1/66 RUS: 1’22.568

Dudley

Lovely move. Verstappen car behind 0.8.

Lap: 2/66 RUS: 1’19.857

Dudley

So gap behind now 0.7. And this will now be target minus three.

Russell

Verstappen pushing quite hard I feel.

Dudley

DRS enabled.

Dudley

Yeah understood. That’s to be expected. We just need to make sure we get to the target lap.

Dudley

0.7. Will have DRS.

Lap: 3/66 RUS: 1’21.103

Dudley

Norris behind 1.2.

Dudley

Norris 1.1.

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“Shout after turn 12 the gap”

Once Verstappen had passed him, Russell was able to keep Norris behind more easily. The McLaren driver consistently got within DRS range and Russell’s race engineer Marcus Dudley kept him appraised of the threat behind:

Lap: 4/66 RUS: 1’20.843

Russell

He’s driving very hard. [Unclear]

Dudley

Yeah, understood George. Just need to manage where we’re not going to be under threat.

Dudley

Gap to Norris 0.9.

Russell

Will have DRS.

Lap: 5/66 RUS: 1’20.923

Dudley

Norris 0.8, will have DRS.

Russell

Please shout after turn 12 the gap.

Dudley

Copy.

Russell

Can I go strat 13?

Dudley

Affirm.

Dudley

Gap 0.9.

Dudley

Got 1.1. Norris is making 0.4 on us on the straights.

Lap: 6/66 RUS: 1’21.070

Dudley

Will have DRS.

Dudley

One second.

Dudley

Gap one second

Lap: 7/66 RUS: 1’21.306

Dudley

Will have DRS.

Dudley

Gap one second. Just confirm pushing level.

Russell

More than the others.

Lap: 8/66 RUS: 1’21.436

Dudley

Will have DRS. Keeping this position is our first priority.

Lap: 11/66 RUS: 1’21.061

Dudley

Currently target minus three.

Lap: 12/66 RUS: 1’21.383

Dudley

Wind is dying down a bit now. Pace is picking up.

Dudley

Gap 1.1 now target minus four.

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“Target minus five”

As Russell neared his first pit stop, Norris’ race engineer mentioned the possibility of pitting early to jump ahead of the Mercedes. But Russell’s team seem to recognise this as a bluff and did not discuss any concerns about the driver behind ‘undercutting’ them.

However Russell was taking more out of his tyres and the target lap for his pit stop was brought earlier. Mercedes told him “target minus three” after he took the lead, then brought the goal lap forward another two laps.

Russell was told to use his overtake button to pull out as much of a gap as he could over Norris. But he suffered a slow tyre change which dealt a heavy blow to his hopes of out-running the McLaren:

Lap: 13/66 RUS: 1’21.365

Dudley

Gap one second. So now target minus five.

Lap: 14/66 RUS: 1’21.482

Dudley

George, we need to use early overtake exit turn 14.

Dudley

Gap 1.3. Just give me a balance update.

Lap: 15/66 RUS: 1’25.364

Dudley

So box, box.

Lap: 16/66 RUS: 1’40.240

Dudley

Russell pits but his stop is slow
So use overtake on exit.

Lap: 17/66 RUS: 1’20.277

Dudley

So Verstappen just exiting pit lane. Norris still out on track just inside our pit window. Just doing 20.9.

Lap: 18/66 RUS: 1’19.511

Russell

Let me know wear on the soft when you’ve got it.

Dudley

Copy that, will do. So Verstappen four seconds ahead.

Dudley

And Verstappen on the medium tyre.

Lap: 19/66 RUS: 1’19.539

Russell

Let me know high-speed pushing level when you can.

Dudley

Affirm. So target minus five. So Verstappen is doing quite a bit more saving turn three.

Dudley

Behind, Lewis is two seconds, on the medium.

Russell

Copy, I’m going to start saving now. But we need to watch the others pit.

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“I feel I’m pushing a little bit too hard”

Russell switched from the soft compound tyres to mediums for his second stint. He was again on course to pit five laps earlier than originally planned for his next pit stop, following his early first stop, but Russell appeared to be keen to extend his second stint.

However when Norris emerged from his pit stop, much later than the Mercedes drivers, and was immediately over a second and a half quicker, Russell’s team surely knew their chances of keeping him behind were slim.

Lap: 20/66 RUS: 1’19.972

Russell

Keep advising me.

Dudley

Affirm George so we are happy with this management level. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Lap: 22/66 RUS: 1’20.093

Dudley

And we were 60% remaining on tyre wear first stint. Both rears and front-left, that is. Gap to Lewis 1.3.

Lap: 24/66 RUS: 1’20.032

Dudley

So very happy with tyre management at the moment, mate.

Russell

Personally, I feel I’m pushing a little bit too hard in high-speed.

Lap: 26/66 RUS: 1’20.279

Dudley

So, Norris, lap one on the medium was an 18.5.

“Why is he not defending?”

George Russell, Lando Norris, Circuit de Catalunya, 2024 — Once Norris got by Hamilton, it was only a matter of time before he passed Russell

Hamilton defended his position from Russell at first, but when the McLaren got a strong run on him he held his line and let Norris take the inside. Russell, watching in his mirrors, was no doubt disappointed Hamilton hadn’t held Norris back for longer, forcing the McLaren driver to take more out of his tyres. That would have made it easier for Russell to defend his position from Norris:

Lap: 27/66 RUS: 1’20.222

Dudley

Behind…

Russell

Pushing. Pushing hard. [Unclear].

Dudley

Currently target minus five. We are happy with the pushing level in the high speed. We don’t think you’re pushing too much.

Lap: 31/66 RUS: 1’20.338

Dudley

Target minus five. Target minus five.

Russell

Minus five seems too early.

Russell

Gap 1.1. And George this will Plan B. This will be Plan B.

Lap: 32/66 RUS: 1’20.301

Russell

Verstappen passes Hamilton
Why is he not defending?

Dudley

Car behind is now Norris.

Dudley

Now will be target minus three. Target minus three.

Dudley

Gap 1.2.

Lap: 33/66 RUS: 1’20.178

Dudley

Doesn’t have DRS.

Russell

I’d prefer to go minus five if Norris is less than 0.6 exiting 12.

Dudley

Gap one second. Will have DRS.

Lap: 34/66 RUS: 1’20.204

Russell

Consider minus six. Consider minus six. I think he’ll probably get us this lap.

Russell

Yes, that’s not a problem. Just head down.

Russell

Gap 0.7. Early overtake available. Will have DRS.

Lap: 35/66 RUS: 1’22.129

Norris passes Russell
Gap 0.6. Early overtake available. Will have DRS.

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“These tyres feel okay”

Once Norris got through, Hamilton began to close on Russell. Again the team brought Russell in first, and this time switched him to the hard tyres.

Lap: 36/66 RUS: 1’24.372

Russell

These tyres feel okay.

Dudley

Mercedes pit Russell as Hamilton closes on him
So. Box. Box. Going to hard tyre.

Lap: 37/66 RUS: 1’39.351

Russell

How old are his tyres?

Lap: 39/66 RUS: 1’18.964

Dudley

So 28 laps remaining. Forecast to be close between yourself and Lewis at the end.

Dudley

Lewis inside your window, 19.7 last lap.

Russell

Just advise how you’d like me to approach this stint

Dudley

So happy with current level of management. Bring them in slowly.

Russell

[Unclear] bouncing.

“Priority will be having rubber remaining”

On lap 41 Russell told the team the hard tyre “doesn’t feel good”. Mercedes appeared to take that feedback on board when Hamilton came in on the next lap and took a set of softs. Meanwhile Russell was told his objective was to ensure his tyres were still in good shape at the end of the race.

Lap: 40/66 RUS: 1’19.428

Dudley

So George priority will be having rubber remaining end of race.

Russell

Can’t hear you. Go again.

Russell

Priority is having rubber remaining end of race.

Lap: 41/66 RUS: 1’18.982

Dudley

At George, we are happy to reduce the level of management from that last lap.

Russell

This tyre doesn’t feel good. Sliding already.

Lap: 42/66 RUS: 1’19.033

Dudley

Yeah, understood, make sure you switch it on, though. Rubber remaining on the medium 65% front left and both rears.

Russell

Yeah well it’s not wear-limited it’s temperature-limited.

Russell

Marker for vibration.

Lap: 44/66 RUS: 1’19.019

Dudley

Lewis exiting pit lane.

Dudley

So George we need to use the tyres more in the high speed. Pick up the pace here a bit.

Lap: 46/66 RUS: 1’18.291

Dudley

Lewis lap one on soft tyre 18.8.

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“Heads up earlier”

Russell was initially surprised when Norris appeared out of the pit lane close in front of him on lap 48. Although he’d been told the McLaren was pitting, he wasn’t given advanced warning to push to try to get ahead. This was because Mercedes had little reason to expect the pair would end up close together until Norris suffered a slow pit stop.

Soon afterwards Hamilton caught Russell, and with his softer tyres was easily able to overtake.

Lap: 47/66 RUS: 1’18.486

Dudley

Lewis now car behind 2.3, 20 laps remaining.

Dudley

So Norris on exit.

Lap: 48/66 RUS: 1’20.060

Russell

Norris reaches turn one narrowly ahead of Russell
Heads up earlier.

Dudley

He had a slow stop.

Russell

Understood, sorry.

Lap: 51/66 RUS: 1’18.726

Dudley

Main lap time loss is 10 and 12.

Dudley

Hamilton passes Russell
Gap 0.6, gap 0.6. Will have DRS.

“Leclerc expected to be a threat”

George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Circuit de Catalunya, 2024 — Leclerc was breathing down Russell’s neck at the end of the race

The final stage of Russell’s race was all about managing the threat from Leclerc. Dudley kept him appraised of his rival’s progress, and as the gap narrowed allowed him to use more energy from his power unit.

Lap: 53/66 RUS: 1’18.863

Dudley

So Leclerc on five-lap-old soft tyres expected to be a threat, catching us, three laps from the end of the race. Currently doing 18.0.

Lap: 54/66 RUS: 1’18.860

Dudley

Leclerc at seven seconds, forecast to catch four laps from the end.

Lap: 56/66 RUS: 1’18.792

Dudley

Leclerc was an 18.5 last lap.

Russell

Okay just leave me to it now.

Russell

Copy that.

Lap: 62/66 RUS: 1’19.304

Russell

Russell wants to make sure he’s used all his available energy at the end of the race as he tries to our-tun Leclerc
Make sure the pack’s at the bottom.

Dudley

We will.

Lap: 63/66 RUS: 1’19.520

Dudley

‘High speed one’ available.

Lap: 64/66 RUS: 1’19.372

Dudley

Mercedes give Russell extra power
Three laps remaining. Early overtake press exit turn 14.

Lap: 65/66 RUS: 1’19.634

Russell

Is this two laps to go?

Dudley

Yeah that’s two laps to go.

Dudley

We can use early overtake exit turn nine.

Dudley

So Leclerc 0.9 behind. Push and hold overtake exit 14. Push and hold overtake. Has DRS, will have DRS.

Lap: 66/66 RUS: 1’19.751

Dudley

Overtake available rest of the lap as you need.

Dudley

Gap 0.4.

“It’s all going in the right direction”

Fourth may not have been the result Russell hoped would be possible at the end of lap one, but the team’s second consecutive three-four finish behind Verstappen and Norris underlined their clear progress since the start of the year. Team principal Toto Wolff called it a performance to be proud of:

Chequered flag

Dudley

Chequered flag, nice job, P4.

Russell

Yeah well done team. Great to be back in the fight and back in the mix as last week. Struggled a little bit on that last tyre but still very good result and happy with the progress.

Dudley

Yeah affirm. It’s all going in the right direction. Good stuff.

Wolff

George, with the hard tyre that was probably the maximum, but well driven. We can be proud of that race even if the result is not what we want. But it was still with the hard tyre the best we could do.

Russell

Yeah, thanks Toto. Good result.

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2024 Spanish Grand Prix

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21 comments on ““Why’s he not defending?”: How Russell sank to fourth after stunning start”

Richard
25th June 2024, 18:55

From what I remember Russell could have slowed down only 1 to 3 tenths of a second to give Hamilton DRS which would have helped Hamilton defend against Norris and possibly cause Norris a bit more tire wear. Russell apparently was incapable of thinking 200m into the future to do that. Sometimes you have to help your teammate help you or even help another team help you ala Sainz a few years ago. Regardless I think the Mercedes tire strategy and McLaren car development would have trumped any defensive strategy.
Ben
25th June 2024, 19:00

He can’t really complain about his strategy as it seems like his own tyre wear was the issue. Having to call for an early second stop which had already been reduced by 5laps shows how poor his management was.
1. notagrumpyfan
  25th June 2024, 19:48
  
  Having to call for an early second stop which had already been reduced by 5laps shows how poor his management was.
  
  If his first stop was ‘minus 5’ then his second stop at ‘minus 5’ was as long as originally planned (but with an avg 5 laps, some 7kg, of extra fuel).
Velocityboy (@velocityboy)
25th June 2024, 19:08

On lap 32 Lewis chooses not to use up his tires defending against what is clearly a faster car. Either Russell still doesn’t know how to manage his tires over the course of a race or he expects Lewis to be his helper drone and sacrifice his race to maximize Russell’s position. Makes me think there is more to Lewis always being slightly ahead of Russell in qualifying than just happenchance.
1. SteveP
  25th June 2024, 19:56
  
  Either Russell still doesn’t know how to manage his tires over the course of a race or he expects Lewis to be his helper drone and sacrifice his race to maximize Russell’s position
  
  Both of the above, I’ve been hoping he’d learn, like Hamilton learned from Button – smoother lines increases tyre life without losing (much) speed, but it seems some people are slow learners (when will I stop hoping he will do something sensible)
Nick T.
25th June 2024, 19:11

Russell and Sainz seems like the whiniest drivers when it comes to complaining about other drivers as well as their teammates. Lewis is just the whiniest when it comes to the car’s performance. We need that rule someone proposed about a maximum of one radio complaint per incident asking about a penalty and then fine the drivers for whining about the car being slow more than once or twice.
1. Applebook
  25th June 2024, 20:32
  
  Or you can just ignore their whining. I don’t want drivers gagged just to please some fans.
2. ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
  26th June 2024, 4:07
  
  Nick, I hope that you can appreciate the irony of your comment: whingeing about whingeing. It gave me a chuckle.
  1. Nick T.
    26th June 2024, 5:11
    
    I mean 80% of what we do on here is whinge.
    1. ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
      26th June 2024, 7:31
      
      You are entirely correct, and I am not wrong.
      1. Nick T.
        27th June 2024, 2:41
        
        Disagree to not disagree.
3. MadMax (@madmax)
  26th June 2024, 6:57
  
  I’d go for fining swearing over the radio. But that would mean VER investing half his income as soon as his car is not the fastest by some margin.
  1. Osnola
    27th June 2024, 9:00
    
    Interesting to see you were able to talk negative about max in a completly different topic;)
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
26th June 2024, 4:11

The top photograph of all the cars taken just before the first corner is my favorite F1 photo of the year so far. It’s now serving as new wallpaper, thank you!
1. Nick T.
  26th June 2024, 5:15
  
  It is a cool photo. Check out The Cahier Archive for amazing photos from modern F1 back to at least the 70s I think. A father and and now son F1 photography team, which has turned F1 photos into real art. I’ve got several very large, expensively framed photos of theirs, including shots from the ‘80s and early 2000s.
  1. ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
    26th June 2024, 7:37
    
    I am an old fan, so Cahier Archive ain’t new too me, thank you for thinking about my interests anyways :)
    So this link might not last, but if you want to get a blast from the past check out this:
    https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2fc076?playlist=x3saqh
    I am reliving 2012 this year. Cheers!
    1. Nick T.
      27th June 2024, 2:50
      
      I continuously watch through the old seasons on F1TV, InternetArchive and DailyMotion the 2000-2018 seasons over and over. 2012 is an insanely fun season. Of FA’s 2012 season, on the Bring Back V10s podcast, Karun said:
      
      I still maintain 2012, more than 2010 I guess, was arguably the single greatest season we’ve seen a driver put together since Jim Clark in 1965.
obster
26th June 2024, 18:12

Just so we understand that George is playing the spoiler here.
He’s free to do that. Just watch out he doesn’t take you out in the process…
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
26th June 2024, 20:51

George looks like a pretty boy and is worryingly starting to drive like one.

I think he wrongly thinks that as Lewis is only half interested in this season, that means Lewis will do his bidding for him.

What he forgets like that other occasionally lazy Great White Shark, Fernando Alosno, Lewis thrives where he senses blood, i.e. a chance to get some decent points.
1. Roy Beedrill
  27th June 2024, 1:00
  
  Those “keep advising me” have really reminded me of Nico.
  1. Nick T.
    27th June 2024, 2:52
    
    Agreed, except Nico was a lot smarter and technically adept.