Russell surprised Verstappen didn't use pack strategy in Abu Dhabi title decider

George Russell expressed surprise that Max Verstappen did not employ a slower, pack-controlling strategy during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a tactic the Mercedes driver had anticipated in the final race of the season. Russell, who finished a disappointing fifth, revealed his team expected the scenario but found Verstappen unable to execute it due to the race's competitive dynamics.

Why it matters:

The final race strategy reveals the high-stakes mind games and tactical layers present in a championship decider. Russell's expectation highlights a common defensive tactic where a leading driver manages the pace to protect a teammate's position or disrupt a rival's strategy, underscoring the team-oriented and strategic nature of Formula 1 beyond pure speed.

The details:

• Russell stated his team "expected Max to back people up a little bit more" to bunch the field and potentially create issues for his rival, Lando Norris.
• This tactic became unviable for Verstappen because Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren was running in second place. Letting Piastri get too far ahead or potentially pass him was an unacceptable risk for the Red Bull driver.
• The resulting higher pace spread the field, leaving Mercedes with a car that lacked the performance to fight at the front, a situation Russell acknowledged after just a few laps.
• Russell also noted his surprise at the strong race pace shown by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who briefly challenged Norris, calling it another example of Ferrari showing "really great speed at random points."

The big picture:

The race capped off a challenging season for Mercedes, with Russell describing the team's lack of pace as "abnormal" and expressing relief that "this era has come to a close." His comments point to a desire for a fresh start under new regulations, moving past a period where strategic gambles were often necessary to compensate for a car that was not consistently competitive at the very front of the grid.