On Sunday, George Russell secured second place in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite not being in top shape upon his arrival in Baku – he skipped his media obligations on Thursday – he put on a stellar performance during the race. The Brit only had to concede to Max Verstappen‘s Red Bull. Thanks in part to this new podium finish, Mercedes has moved up to second place in the constructors’ championship.
“First and foremost, I want to congratulate Carlos (Sainz, ed.) and Williams on this fantastic result,” Russell responded after the race. The Brit himself drove for the Grove team for several seasons and delivered their last podium in 2021. “For us, it’s good to be back on the podium,” he continued. “Personally, it was a tough weekend for me, but the car felt great. The fact that Kimi (Antonelli, ed.) also finished fourth only makes it better.”
“Fortunately, I felt much better today,” said Russell, referring to his lack of fitness this weekend. “Still, I was glad when the checkered flag finally fell,” he laughed. “I’m looking forward to taking some rest, although I’m extremely pleased with this result. And we’ve made a good step in the constructors’ championship.” Thanks to the performances of Russell and Antonelli, Mercedes now stands second, ahead of the rivals from Maranello.
