Mercedes have had an awful year. Not much has gone their way this season with 2nd place finishes by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell being their best result. Red Bull and Max Verstappen in particular, have been a dominant force, unstoppable for most of the races. George Russell has opened up about one such 2022 race.

The Italian GP was a controversial affair this year. The safety-car finish to the race was one of the main talking points of the season. Charles Leclerc started the race from pole position and Verstappen qualified P2. However, due to multiple penalties on the grid, George Russell started from P2, while Max started P7.

Despite Verstappen starting so far back, many expected the Dutch prodigy to compete against Leclerc for the top spot. Red Bull’s dominance and destruction of the track in Spa had a terrorizing effect on other teams.

Russell was predicted to slip from second to third, and Hamilton, at best, could finish fourth. Even though Verstappen was starting from seventh on the grid, he appeared unstoppable. As per the New Yorker, in the pre-race strategy call, Russell said, “He’s either going to crash or he’s going to win the race. That’s the reality”.

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Verstappen eventually won the race behind the Safety car followed by Leclerc and Russell. Lewis Hamilton finished an impressive P5 coming from P19.

George Russell believed Mercedes had a real shot to win in Mexico

George Russell, who started the race from P2 in Mexico, was adamant that the Silver Arrows had a real shot of winning the Mexican GP. It was perhaps the first time that Mercedes could challenge for a win against their rivals. However, Verstappen was always the favorite to win the race, and the Dutchman did just that.

After Saturday qualifying, Russell said, “I am disappointed because I felt like the team deserved pole position, but ultimately the points are on Sunday and we will be going for the win. It’s a shame but we are starting P2, second best quali of the year, and there are a lot of positives to take away”.

He further added, “We think we have a reasonable shot, and having Lewis at the front as well gives us the opportunity to do something different on the strategy”.

Russell won the solitary pole for Mercedes this season back at the Hungarian Grand Prix. While he hoped to win Mercedes’ first race of the season, he had to be content with a P4 finish. However, the Brit did win the extra point for the fastest lap.

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Starting on the front row alongside Max Verstappen, Russell was leapfrogged by his teammate in the first few corners of the race. Mercedes got their tire strategy wrong as Verstappen enjoyed a comfortable race win in Mexico. Can the Silver Arrows pip Red Bull before the end of the season and grab a surprise win?