George Russell laments what F1 has change into: "It is a race to Flip 1"

George Russell was left annoyed by the present state of racing in System 1 after the USA Grand Prix, claiming it’s all right down to qualifying and what occurs in the beginning.

The Mercedes driver completed sixth on Sunday after dropping right down to that place at lights out, whereas most runners used a one-stop technique to make it exhausting for Russell to leap again up the order utilizing strategic variance.

Max Verstappen ultimately dominated the Austin race, marking the thirteenth time this yr {that a} grand prix has been received from pole, with solely six events by which that hasn’t occurred.

“Proper now in F1 it is a race to Flip 1,” Russell instructed Sky Sports activities F1. “There isn’t any tyre degradation, there’s solely three tenths between the quickest automotive and the slowest automotive within the prime six.

“Usually, you want at the very least half a second to overhaul, so if I got here out of Flip 1 in P3, I might have been on the rostrum as we speak. However as an alternative I got here out in P6 and I completed P6.”

Russell later expanded to the print media on why tyre life is predominantly the explanation for the shortage of overtaking, an issue that has additionally been heightened by the tightness of the aggressive order.

George Russell, Mercedes

Photograph by: Kym Illman / Getty Photos

Pink Bull, McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari are all in rivalry for the rostrum spots, and in Q3 on Saturday, simply half a second lined the highest six from Verstappen right down to Oscar Piastri.

“The factor is now when there is no tyre degradation, there is no tyre delta,” stated Russell. “Each observe we go to, you want at the very least half a second to overhaul, in order that’s why you are not seeing any overtakes. I do not even keep in mind the final two-stop race.”

Russell was reluctant to criticise Pirelli although, given it has produced a really succesful tyre that means groups can now efficiently function a one-stop technique at most circuits.

“Pirelli get a tough time it doesn’t matter what,” stated the five-time grand prix winner. “There’s a lot of tyre degradation, individuals say it is not actual, the drivers cannot push, now we have to handle, we do not like that when there is no tyre degradation, we are saying it is a boring race we wish to see.

“However they are not in a position to win in any case, so realistically you need a tyre that you may push full gasoline, however it would not go the entire race.

“When you may select the tyre, it is a tyre you’ll be able to go flat out, however after 15 laps it falls off a cliff and it’s important to do a two- or three-stop race.

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

Photograph by: Clive Rose / System 1 through Getty Photos

“Ideally, the tender tyre does 12 laps, the medium tyre does 15 laps and the exhausting tyre does 20 laps after which it falls off the cliff. However that could be a lot simpler stated than performed.

“Pirelli get a really exhausting time, they do their finest, they’ve given us a considerably higher tyre, like this tyre is superb, however it causes dangerous racing.”

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Russell subsequently doesn’t see the scenario enhancing on the remaining 5 rounds of 2025 – Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi – forward of the brand new laws subsequent yr.

“Qatar and Vegas realistically are our two finest photographs, however once more, all of it simply comes right down to the lap in qualifying,” he added to Sky Sports activities.

“When you do a extremely robust lap and also you’re on the entrance row you’ll be able to maintain the place and when you do not, it is going to be the identical in Mexico. So, it is going to come right down to Q3 and the race.”

Photographs from United States GP – Race

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing