George Russell: Rivals “Screwed Up Q3”
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Qualifying Context:
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Mercedes locked out the front row in Melbourne, with Russell P1 and Antonelli P2.
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Russell believed the rivals—including Ferrari—made errors in Q3, which allowed the Silver Arrows to secure the one-two:
“I think you guys screwed up Q3 because nobody really improved.”
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Race Start & Early Laps:
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Leclerc had an explosive launch, going from P4 to the lead into Turn 1.
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Both Russell and Antonelli started with 0% battery, while Leclerc had “a little bit more,” giving Ferrari a strong start despite Mercedes’ pace.
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Russell and Leclerc traded positions at the front before the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was deployed for Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull.
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Race Strategy:
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Mercedes pitted under the VSC, minimizing time loss.
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Ferrari kept Leclerc and Hamilton out, but fresher tyres alone weren’t enough to close the gap.
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Race Result:
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George Russell: 1st
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Kimi Antonelli: 2nd
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Charles Leclerc: 3rd
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Leclerc’s Take:
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He acknowledged Mercedes’ superior pace in qualifying but felt Ferrari was more competitive in race trim:
“Very pleased is maybe a big word, but I am positively surprised for sure… we are a bit more reasonably behind.”
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He emphasised that development and upgrades will be key for championship contention.
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