George Russell expressed great satisfaction with the chaotic qualifying session in São Paulo. The Mercedes driver surprisingly secured the second spot, behind pole-sitter Lando Norris. Therefore, Russell didn’t mind having to wake up early for the session.
During the delayed qualifying session, the rain continued to fall, causing several drivers to go off the track. Franco Colapinto, Carlos Sainz, both Aston Martins, and Alexander Albon caused red flags and interruptions during the session. Max Verstappen was out of the qualification early for the first time in 2024, due to Stroll’s crash that prematurely ended Q2.
For Russell, the chaos ultimately didn’t matter, as the Mercedes driver surprisingly secured the second starting spot. “I always love coming to São Paulo, so this is fantastic,” Russell said after the session. “I have good memories from a few years back (when Russell won the race in 2022). And even after yesterday, which was so tough, I’m very happy with the second spot.”
Karting Days
Because the qualification couldn’t be held on Saturday afternoon due to persistent rainfall, the session took place early in the morning. Russell didn’t really mind getting up early. “I loved it, to be honest,” says the Mercedes driver. “It reminded me of my karting days and having breakfast in your racing suit. Maybe this format is actually the best, with the qualification on Sunday morning. It was a great session, but let’s see what we can do in the race.
