George Russell said what he thinks was his best ever race in F1, but it didn’t end the way he wanted.
Russell has had some incredible performances and results in the sport, both with Williams and Mercedes. Russell almost won his first race with Mercedes at the Sakhir Grand Prix, beat Lewis Hamilton to his first win in Brazil, and came second for Williams in Belgium.
But none of those drives were chosen by Russell as his best race in the sport.
George Russell says Spa 2024 was his best ever race in Formula One, despite being disqualified
Russell said that his best-ever race in F1 was at the Belgian Grand Prix in 2024. His incredible strategy call saw him essentially win the race, but he was disqualified afterwards for not having enough fuel in the car, handing his teammate Hamilton the victory.
Russell said that while it won’t go down in the history books that way, he still counts the win. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said, “I still see it as a victory, to be honest. [Hamilton’s] got enough victories to his name; he’s happy to pass one over!”
The Brit has an astonishing record around the Spa Francorchamps circuit. He put his Williams on the front row in qualifying in 2021, and the race was rained off the following day, which gave him a podium.
He is hoping to replicate that form this weekend to get his Mercedes season back on track.
He said, “This place has a lot of happy memories for me. The front row qualifying at Williams in 2021, and regardless of what happened last year with the disqualification, it was probably the best race I’ve done in Formula One.
“Of course I want to stand on the top step this year round and keep the trophy afterwards.”
George Russell looks to regain form and save his Mercedes seat
Russell has been one of the best drivers on the F1 grid this year, but he is coming off the back of his worst race of the season.
He finished the first six races inside the top five, standing on the podium four times during that run, then won the Canadian Grand Prix once he was given a car capable of running at the front.
Russell will hope to put last weekend at his home race behind him. He finished tenth after a misjudged strategy call in the rain and a series of mistakes during the race.
As Max Verstappen eyes Russell’s Mercedes seat, which was revealed by Russell in Austria, he’ll want to continue putting in consistent results, and fend off Verstappen.