George Russell Demands ‘Serious Conversations’ After Being ‘Infuriated’ by Pirelli F1 Tyres at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

George Russell expresses frustration with Pirelli’s Formula 1 tyres, urging for important discussions.

"The tyres are the only variable. Honestly, this is unacceptable."

George Russell expressed strong frustration with the Pirelli F1 tires during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, urging for important discussions with the Italian tire producer.

For the first time since winning the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this year, Russell stepped back up to the podium.

The Mercedes driver was lucky to finish in third place, advancing two positions because of a last-lap crash involving Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez.

Russell found his rhythm and speed in the second half of Sunday’s grand prix, following a difficult start.

In an interview with F1 TV following the race, Russell explained that his inconsistent speed was due to the tyres.

"It's a relief to know they're both fine. We're surely going to make it to the podium," he remarked. "The race was really unusual. During the first half, we were lagging by 1.5 seconds. However, in the final 20 laps, I was a second faster than Oscar and Charles, and three-tenths of a second ahead of Max, Checo, and Carlos."

"The circuit, driver, and car remained unchanged; the only difference was switching from yellow tires to white ones."

"Frankly, it's truly frustrating how much the performance fluctuates, and this isn't limited to Mercedes. Every team and every driver experiences this. In one session, we might be quick, and in the next, we're not. There's only one factor that shifts."

Russell characterized the circumstances as "unsatisfactory" and called for "meaningful discussions".

"It's some kind of dark art," he continued. "Even the manufacturers of the tires don't fully grasp them."

"We really need to have in-depth discussions about the current situation. We have 2,000 employees putting in immense effort to create the quickest car. For 20 laps, our car was competitive and capable of winning, but for another 20 laps, it performed so poorly it didn't deserve to be in the top positions."

"The only thing that's different is the tires. Honestly, it's not satisfactory."

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