Russell says deployment problem cost him positions in Mexico City

After the Mexico City Grand Prix, George Russell said an opening-lap deployment problem cost him several places and took him out of contention for a strong result. He had qualified second, just 0.009 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton, and said he made a good start but could not deploy full energy down the straight.

Russell described the race as very disappointing and said the issue was outside his control. Later, in a battle for fifth, he tapped the rear of Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull, sending Hadjar into a spin; Russell received a 10-second time penalty for the collision.

Russell held Lando Norris off before pitting, but his longer stop cost him fifth. He finished sixth, scoring eight points.

Kimi Antonelli’s third place secured the Drivers’ Championship. Russell congratulated his team-mate and said he would reset for Brazil, with his focus on helping Mercedes win the Constructors’ Championship.