George Russell believes that gravel on the observe from workforce mate Kimi Antonelli’s off in Dash Qualifying may have brought about harm that introduced his personal session to an early shut on the Belgian Grand Prix.
Neither Mercedes featured in the final phase of Sprint Qualifying on Friday, with Antonelli dramatically spinning into the gravel at Stavelot in SQ1. As he recovered to the observe, stones have been scattered throughout the asphalt.
Antonelli exited the session in final place and, whereas Russell was capable of escape in fifth, his afternoon got here to an in depth in SQ2, the place he may handle solely the thirteenth quickest time.
Assured that the Mercedes has sturdy underlying tempo, Russell stated: “In Q1, I ran over all of that gravel when Kimi went off. For the remainder of that lap, it felt horrible, and the following lap, it felt horrible. Then my lap in SQ2 felt horrible.
“We noticed some harm on the automotive. We have to see if that’s the rationale, as a result of clearly, it’s an enormous shock to be out in SQ2, and the hole was so large. I’m positive there’s a cause for it.”
Sharing Russell’s confidence {that a} poor Friday doesn’t imply Mercedes is out for the depend in Belgium, Antonelli stated: “The automotive felt good over the lap, so I’m undoubtedly assured for tomorrow, and we’ll simply attempt to reset and look ahead to tomorrow.”
As for his off, Antonelli was left trying to find solutions, including: “It was truly a reasonably first rate lap.
“I used to be round P4, and it simply was bizarre as a result of I misplaced it fully on exit and I simply must verify. Possibly it was a gust of wind, but it surely was fairly bizarre, the best way I misplaced the automotive.”
With one eye on the potential for moist climate on Sunday, Antonelli stated: “It’s going to be vital tomorrow to do a superb quali, after which Sunday is perhaps moist, so loads of alternatives, however we’ll concentrate on tomorrow [for now].”
