Russell: F1 boils down to the “race to turn 1” after US GP

George Russell Criticizes Modern Formula 1 After the United States Grand Prix

Mercedes driver George Russell has expressed his concern about the direction modern Formula 1 is taking, describing the current races as a “race to turn 1”. This statement comes after a United States Grand Prix that, despite expectations, did not offer many overtaking opportunities. Max Verstappen took the victory, marking the thirteenth time this season that the driver starting from pole position has won. Russell, who started the race in fifth position, finished sixth, losing a position to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at the start of the race.

“Right now in F1 it’s a race to turn 1,” Russell commented to Sky Sports F1. “There’s no tire degradation, there are only three tenths between the fastest and slowest car in the top six.”

George Russell

Russell emphasized the difficulty of overtaking in the current conditions. He mentioned that, had he maintained his third position after the first corner, he would have finished on the podium. However, upon starting sixth, that was his final position.

The image shows George Russell, who finished sixth in the United States Grand Prix. Lando Norris of McLaren made some overtakes in his fight with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, although the different tire strategies influenced it. Formula 1 has been looking for solutions to improve the excitement in races. The Drag Reduction System (DRS) is being reviewed, but it has been considered a temporary solution to deeper problems, related to the difficulty of modern cars to follow each other. Pirelli, the long-standing tire supplier in F1, has received criticism. Russell pointed out that it is unfair to blame Pirelli alone.

“Pirelli receives a lot of criticism, no matter what”, Russell said. “When there is a lot of tire degradation, people say it’s not real, that the drivers can’t push when they have to manage… and then, when there is no tire degradation, we say it’s a boring race”.

George Russell

Russell went on to explain that the search for an ideal tire is complex. He described the ideal scenario as one in which drivers could drive at maximum performance for a limited period, which would require multiple pit stops. Russell concluded by highlighting the challenges facing Pirelli and the difficulty of finding a balance that satisfies everyone involved.