George Russell has denied that last year’s dramatic crash on the final lap of the Singapore Grand Prix has given him any added motivation heading into this year’s race. Russell was running in third place, chasing McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, when he clipped the wall at Turn 10, ending his race and handing the podium spot to his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton. Despite the bitter end, Russell insists he’s not out for redemption this weekend at Marina Bay.
‘It’s Part of Racing’: Russell Reflects on Last Year’s Disappointment
Reflecting on his mistake, Russell emphasized that it’s all part of the high-risk nature of street circuits. “It’s not really something I’m thinking about. It’s part of racing, part of street circuits. If you’re not 100% focused every single lap, you’re going to get bitten,” Russell said. He recalled the moment when both he and Norris touched the wall, leading to his costly error. “I thought the race was kind of done. And right behind Lando, he kissed the wall. I touched the wall. Before I knew it, I’m out of the race.”
Despite the setback, Russell maintains that last year’s incident won’t affect his approach to this year’s race. “That’s how the game goes, and it’s not going to change my approach one bit, how I go into this weekend. You learn from things like that.”
Mercedes Aiming for Strong Performance at Marina Bay
Russell is optimistic about Mercedes’ chances this weekend, hoping the W15 can replicate last year’s strong showing at Marina Bay, where he qualified on the front row. “We went really strong here last year. The pace was really good in Singapore. So hopefully we can continue that good performance we had here last year and see where it takes us,” Russell said.
He noted the unique nature of circuits like Singapore and Azerbaijan, highlighting the importance of precision in such competitive conditions. “It’s so competitive now at the front. And a tenth or two can be the difference between a front row start or P6 or 7 on the grid, which is very exciting,” Russell added.
Russell Reflects on Recent Struggles and Hopes for Better Racing in Singapore
Mercedes has faced challenges since the season resumed, struggling to maintain the momentum it built before the summer break. Russell’s mixed performance in Baku saw him fight through a difficult opening stint before ending the race with the quickest pace and a surprise podium. Looking ahead to Singapore, Russell believes that grid position will be crucial, even with the addition of a new DRS zone between Turns 14 and 16.
“We were really competitive in the second stint last week. Definitely surprised ourselves there,” Russell recalled. He hopes the new DRS zone will improve overtaking opportunities, but stresses that qualifying will still play a pivotal role in the outcome. “I think it will still go down to qualifying. That’s going to be key, getting a good Saturday in and that’ll set you up nicely for the race.”
As Russell prepares to take on the Marina Bay circuit again, he’s focused on executing a clean weekend rather than dwelling on last year’s missed podium. With the competitive field tighter than ever, every detail will matter as Mercedes aims to return to the front in Singapore.
