George Russell, the British driver for Mercedes AMG F1, expressed his concerns about the comfort of the drivers due to the increased levels of turbulent air in the 2024 Formula 1 season. The issue of dirty air has been a topic of discussion among the drivers as it affects their ability to closely follow each other on the track. Russell specifically mentioned the impact on helmets, stating that they tend to lift in high turbulence. He noted that while he has not faced issues with his helmet during practice and qualifying sessions, he struggles with it during races when there are multiple cars around him. According to Russell, the current generation of cars is more difficult to follow compared to previous seasons.
During the Japanese Grand Prix, Russell finished in seventh place, while Mercedes continues to strive for a place on the podium with their W15 car. The team has been dealing with bounce issues in the early stages of the season, and Russell also experienced a vibration in the steering wheel in the last race. Despite these challenges, he managed to pressure his McLaren rival, Oscar Piastri, and overtake him in the final stages of the race. There was some contact between the two drivers at the final chicane, leading to an investigation by the FIA stewards. However, Russell was not penalized for the incident.
Russell reflected on the race, acknowledging the fierce competition between the teams. He mentioned that even a small difference in qualifying times can determine the race result, with the top six cars often finishing within a tenth or two tenths of a second. He also mentioned that starting on the hard tires at the restart provided some flexibility, but he lost valuable time behind Lewis Hamilton at the beginning. Russell believes that if he had started a few positions higher, it would have made a significant difference in the race.
