Reaching Q3 in Austria feels like a pole position for Williams

Russell finished just eight thousandths of a second behind a Q3 spot at the Red Bull Ring last Saturday and was chasing points in the race before a problem with the drive unit forced him to retire.

But Russell showed little evidence that the setback hurt him as he battled his way into Q3 in Williams colors for the first time and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr.

Russell was in ninth place after the first few runs in Q2, but the decision to switch to the slower, medium compound tire didn’t prove costly as he was still improving his time and making it into Q3.

The Williams driver was able to qualify in ninth place, but is expected to win at least one starting place, as Sebastian Vettel is being investigated for the suspension of Fernando Alonso.

“For us it really felt like a pole position,” said Russell after qualifying in the Red Bull Ring paddock.

“Getting into Q3 is one thing, but it’s enormous on the medium tire.

“Before the session, of course, we debated the order in which we would do Q2, whether it would be soft first, followed by medium, or vice versa. But we were pretty insistent that we didn’t want to get into the top 10 in the softs.

“To do that feels almost like a pole position and probably the most excited one I’ve won since my last race.”

George Russell, Williams FW43B

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Russell’s result is the first time Williams has competed in Q3 since the 2018 Italian Grand Prix. His only other appearance was his one-off appearance for Mercedes in Sakhir last year when he qualified second.

Williams will start the race on Sunday and chase his first points since Germany 2019 and have a real chance to overtake both Haas and Alfa Romeo in the F1 constructors’ championship.

Russell was optimistic about the team’s chances, believing the cars around him starting on the soft compound tires might have more problems.

“If we’d done this last stint on the soft it would have been really difficult because like I said, we don’t think we wanted to be on this soft,” said Russell.

“We are in an amazing position with the AlphaTauris in front of us on the soft, [Lance] Stroll and probably Sebastian behind us on the softs.

“We believe the tire will be a disaster in the race. It seemed like they knew something we don’t! Hopefully they don’t.

“We have the flexibility to do what we want with the strategy while I think these guys are pretty locked up.”

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Russell’s performance came on the same day Mercedes announced that Lewis Hamilton would stay with the team for two more years.

Russell is now fighting with Hamilton’s current team-mate Valtteri Bottas for the second Mercedes seat, which has been part of his youth program since 2017.

But Russell said the timing of his attack on Q3 in the context of Mercedes’ driver decision wasn’t something he was concerned about.

“As for timing, it doesn’t even cross my mind,” said Russell.

“I’m only there week after week, I just want to show what I can do to everyone and to myself, Williams and Mercedes, and hopefully that will add to that.”