George’s misery in Melbourne! Mercedes star Russell is forced to abandon the Australian Grand Prix with his car on fire after briefly leading the race after the first corner before slipping to seventh with an ill-timed pit stop.
George Russell suffered a nightmare start at the Melbourne Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, after leading the race.
Russell and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton started second and third on the grid respectively, behind polesitter Max Verstappen.
Both British drivers passed the Red Bull star through the first two corners in a surprising start to the race in Australia.
But Russell’s lead was short-lived, with a safety car coming out after Charles Leclerc crashed into the gravel at the first corner, and then again when Alex Albon was forced to end the race on lap six.
The 25-year-old entered the pit stops early but a red flag relegated him to seventh, before his troubles continued Down Under.
George Russell (right) had a disastrous day at the Melbourne Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.
The Mercedes driver briefly led the race after passing Max Verstappen, who took pole.
He dropped to seventh after a red flag following an early pit stop, before his car caught fire.
The Briton looked shattered as he walked away from his car, smoke billowing from the W12.
Russell said: ‘It just started to slow down. I was putting my foot down on the accelerator and the car wouldn’t accelerate. I saw a puff of smoke in my mirrors and it was game over.
“It’s a shame to be in that position in the first place, going by that red flag, I felt it was totally unnecessary.
“In the same way that I felt last week that the safety car in Saudi Arabia was totally unnecessary, so I really don’t know what’s going on with these decisions at race control.
‘The red flag effectively meant that any driver who wanted could get a ‘free’ pit stop, losing less time than without the red flag.
Mercedes’ strategic decision seemed smart enough, but the pit stop after the gravel on track changed the situation drastically.
Russell then became the third car in the race forced to retire. In what appeared to be a power unit issue, his car suddenly slowed and flames licked at the rear of the car.
Russell then got out of the car as smoke billowed into the sky and called out to the race mechanics.
He looked devastated as he walked away after a disastrous end to his career, none of which was his fault.