Russell criticizes modern F1: “Race to Turn 1” after US GP

George Russell Criticizes Modern Formula 1 After the US GP

Mercedes driver George Russell has expressed his frustration with the current Formula 1, suggesting that the races have become a simple “race to turn 1”. This statement comes after a United States Grand Prix with few thrills. The race at the Circuit of the Americas, which promised to be epic, was characterized by a limited number of overtakes. Max Verstappen’s victory, who started from pole position, was the 13th in the 19 races this year in which the driver who started first won the race. Russell, who started fifth, finished sixth, losing a position to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at the start.

Right now, in F1 it’s a race to turn 1.

George Russell

Russell explained that the lack of tire degradation and the minimal performance difference between the cars make overtaking difficult. He pointed out that, with only three tenths of a second between the six fastest cars, it is difficult to gain positions on the track. McLaren driver Lando Norris pulled off some overtakes in his battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, although the different tire strategies influenced it. Formula 1 has long struggled to find a solution to improve wheel-to-wheel racing. The Drag Reduction System (DRS) will be replaced with next year’s regulation change, but it has previously been compared to a patch for deeper problems, mainly related to the difficulty modern F1 cars have in following each other.

The long-time F1 tire supplier, Pirelli, has often been blamed for the state of its tires, but Russell explained that it’s unfair to simply focus on that area. Russell argued that Pirelli faces constant criticism, regardless of the type of tire it provides. He pointed out that if there is a lot of degradation, the authenticity of the race is questioned, and if there is no degradation, it is considered boring. Russell concluded that, ideally, a tire would be needed that would allow drivers to go flat out for a limited time, forcing multiple pit stops. However, he acknowledged the difficulty of achieving this balance.