RaceFans Round-up: Fourth a “really good recovery”
In the round-up: George Russell is happy to be fourth after almost being knocked out of Q1.
In brief
Fourth a “really good recovery” – Russell
After securing fourth on the grid right behind Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton for the Singapore Grand Prix, George Russell says he is relieved not to be starting further down the grid after suffering confusing grip loss in the early phases of qualifying.
“It was so strange,” he told the official F1 channel. “In FP3 I felt super confident, car was feeling great. Tyres were feeling great. Everything came easily. I thought we were on course for a front row here, had a good amount of margin to the rest of the field.
“Then I went out in Q1 and was almost knocked out. Went out in Q2 and was almost knocked out. Lost all confidence, had no grip. Then in Q3, managed to do a reasonable lap. Ultimately a really good recovery, because we were on course for not being anywhere near the front and now here we are starting on the second row.
“Would have loved to be second, but qualified second here last year and ended up in the wall. So not too fussed about P4.”
Colapinto “frustrated” with 12th
Despite running without the car upgrades given to his team mate Alexander Albon this weekend, Williams rookie Franco Colapinto says he is not happy to have been eliminated from Q2 in 12th, right behind Albon.
“Of course it’s a bit frustrating after finishing only three-hundredths off of Q3, in a track that I’ve never been to before,” he said.
“It’s a bit frustrating because, I can easily go back in my lap and find some lap time and that’s why I’m not happy. But I think we did a good weekend so far. I didn’t have the upgrades that Alex [Albon] has in the car and I still showed that I can be up there and we could be fighting for points, even at a track that maybe doesn’t suit us so well. So there are many positives, of course, but I am frustrated with the result because when you are so, so close, it is disappointing.”
Magnussen ‘limited by old front wing’
After failing to follow Haas team mate Nico Hulkenberg into Q3, Kevin Magnussen pointed to a difference in car specification between his and his team mate’s cars to explain the deficit
“Other people picked up more pace than I did,” he said. “I’d probably reached my maximum with the car.
“There’s a few things that are on our car, like we’re running the old front wing. So a few of the issues that I’m having in some of the corners you can track it down to the front wing. So I think that’s of course, negative for me, but positive for the coming races.”
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Links
F1 legal boss departs after 28 years (Speedcafe)
‘In her role with F1, Woodward Hill advised on the refusal to admit Andretti Global onto the grid and has been involved in developing the Concorde Agreement. It was Woodward Hill who penned a letter to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem after he made comments suggesting F1 was overvalued.’
Formula Regional ‘World Cup’: a long term Macau GP solution (AutoAction)
‘The FIA Formula 3’s short history with the Macau Grand Prix is likely a thing of the past, as the globally expansive Formula Regional category looks set for a positive, and permanent move-in at the famous Guia Circuit. The tight 6.1km circuit on the streets of Macau (a Chinese administrative region west of Hong Kong) has long hosted Formula 3 machinery, with the first outing in 1983 which was won by Ayrton Senna, whilst the likes of Michael Schumacher took it out in 1990.’
VeeKay departs Ed Carpenter Racing (Racer)
‘Ed Carpenter Racing has informed Rinus VeeKay it will end their relationship after five seasons and replace the rapid Dutchman with a new driver of the number 21 Chevrolet in 2025.’
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