Russell's Candid Admission After Securing 'Best of the Rest' in Mexico

George Russell will start the Mexican Grand Prix from fourth position, just behind the two Ferraris, and credits a mere tenth of a second for securing his prime grid spot. This narrow margin separated him from Oscar Piastri in eighth, and crucially, from championship leader Max Verstappen, who endured a challenging qualifying session.

Why it matters:

Securing a second-row start is a significant achievement for Mercedes, especially on a circuit where Ferrari has historically shown strong pace. Russell's ability to extract 'best of the rest' performance under pressure, despite tight competition, highlights Mercedes' ongoing battle to optimize their package and stay ahead of key rivals like McLaren and Aston Martin in critical moments.

The Details:

• Qualifying Performance: Russell clinched P4, just a tenth ahead of drivers in P5 through P8, including Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.
• Ferrari's Strength: Russell acknowledged Ferrari's historical dominance at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, noting, "Ferrari have been on pole here for the last few years, they're always very strong here."
• Lando Norris's Pole: He also praised Lando Norris's exceptional pole position, stating, "Lando did an amazing job. So we were best of the rest, and there was only a tenth between me and Oscar in P8, so I'm glad to be on the right side of that tenth."
• Strategic Starting Position: Russell surprisingly suggested that starting slightly further back might be an advantage on the long run to Turn 1 in Mexico. This unique characteristic of the track means the pole-sitter is often "at the mercy" of other drivers for slipstream opportunities, depending on their positioning.
  • Russell elaborated: "You would still choose to start on pole over any other position, but this is the most challenging circuit of the year to start from pole. You're kind of at the mercy of the pole man. If he stays to the left, the odd numbered starters get a slipstream, he moves to the right, the even numbered starters get the slipstream."

What's next:

While Ferrari drivers expressed some skepticism about a significant comeback, pole-sitter Lando Norris was confident that both Verstappen (starting P5) and Piastri (starting P8) have the potential to fight their way through the field and contend for victory. The long run to Turn 1 and the high-altitude conditions of the Mexican Grand Prix often lead to unpredictable races, making Sunday's contest one to watch closely for strategic plays and overtakes.