George Russell 'Definitely Not' on Sprint Pole, Cites Hulkenberg's 'Real Surprise'

George Russell has definitively stated that Mercedes was "definitely not" in contention for pole position in the United States Grand Prix sprint qualifying, despite an evolving track at Circuit of the Americas. Russell, who set his final lap early, was pushed down the order not only by the expected pace of Max Verstappen and the McLarens but also by a "real surprise" performance from Nico Hulkenberg.

Why it matters:

Russell's remarks offer a candid assessment of Mercedes' current performance ceiling, particularly in sprint qualifying trim. His inability to challenge for the top spots and being outpaced by a midfield car like Hulkenberg's underscores the persistent challenges Mercedes faces in optimizing their W16, even as the team remains hopeful for better race pace. This dynamic sets the stage for a potentially volatile sprint race where track evolution and unexpected midfield pace could play a significant role.

The Details:

• Early Lap, Evolving Track: Russell completed his final qualifying lap earlier than many rivals, a decision that proved costly as the Circuit of the Americas track continued to improve throughout the session.
• Unexpected Competitor: While being outqualified by Verstappen and the McLarens (Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri) was anticipated, Nico Hulkenberg's P4 lap for Haas (Stake) was described by Russell as a "real surprise."
  • This marks Hulkenberg's first Q3 appearance in any qualifying session this season, highlighting a significant and unexpected jump in performance for the Haas driver.
• Mercedes' Position: Russell ultimately qualified P5 for the sprint, which he characterized as a "bad day" for Mercedes.
  • He emphasized, "on the good days, we're in the fight, on the bad days, we're P5." This suggests a clear understanding within the team of their current performance bracket.
• Race Pace Optimism: Despite the qualifying struggles, Russell remains optimistic about Mercedes' prospects in the race.
  • He believes the W16 could be a "better race car than we do qualifying car," particularly due to anticipated improvements in high-speed corners when the car is less aggressively low to the ground.

What's next:

Russell's focus will now shift to converting his P5 sprint start into valuable points, leveraging the W16's potential race pace. The unexpected strength of Hulkenberg, starting P4, adds an intriguing element to the sprint grid, potentially creating more unpredictable battles in the midfield. Mercedes will be looking to gather crucial data from the sprint to fine-tune their setup for the main Grand Prix, where Russell anticipates being "roughly where we're at, sort of in the fight for P4."