Russell stated after qualifying that he was “just confused” why Latifi “got the upper hand over me on every lap” during practice and the first quarter, with the Brit falling behind him in every session except the third RP.
However, in the second quarter, Russell reversed the Williams drivers’ fortune to maintain his 100% qualifying record against teammates on the team. His only F1 qualifying loss to a teammate was his loss to Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas when he stood for Lewis Hamilton at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.
Russell said “everything came to life, the car felt great” when the Williams drivers used a set of mid-range tires for their first few runs in the second quarter – the first time since 2020 Hungary that the duo have shared the mid-qualifying segment had reached GP – and he stayed ahead of Latifi when they switched back to the softs to finish 12th and 14th on the grid.
When asked by Autosport what was behind Russell’s Q2 improvement, Williams’ Director of Vehicle Performance, Dave Robson said, “We know he’s capable of taking a lap when it really counts. [and] I think he was really surprised yesterday.
“Nicholas just blew the blocks yesterday and was strong from the start, and I think that bothered George a bit, and he’d been busy with it until this afternoon.
“To be fair, he just knocked out over the weekend – he just finished a good lap.”
Commenting on his pre-qualifying struggles, Russell said, “I came over this weekend thinking this could be our chance for the third quarter and the points.
“After every single session I thought I’d be lucky enough to get out of the first quarter. Nicholas had the upper hand on me every single lap all weekend. I was just confused why.
George Russell, Williams FW43B
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“I thought I was driving well, the car felt good. And he was just faster than me, a good three or four tenths each time, and even in the first quarter I scratched the skin of my teeth. “
Russell’s first jump on the media in the second quarter led him to feel that he was “actually trying to do my second set on the middle hoop at that session too,” but Robson stated, “I don’t think we ever would have done that” The team had to keep the additional media for the race on Sunday.
Robson added: “We urgently want this new option for some flexibility tomorrow, especially given the current weather forecast [high chance of rain showers]. ”
Robson also showed Latifi’s strong form this weekend – he achieved his highest spot on the F1 grid, beating Alpine’s Fernando Alonso with an identical time that the Canadian first set.
“He was just extremely good from the moment he rolled out of the garage in P1,” continued Robson. “It was particularly good both in terms of the pace and in terms of his overall attitude and behavior.
“He obviously had a small mistake in P3 [when Latifi crashed at the Villeneuve chicane] and it didn’t bother him at all. And the fact that he immediately went back out when we were happy with the car still got him back on track pretty quickly
“I think the car is just constant and behaves well around the lap. I am sure it will help and play a small part in it.
“But I think we also have to remember that he was here quickly in October. He seems good here and the car is good.
“But yeah, I think there was a little bit more to it this weekend, not just that he’s kind of an Imola specialist.
“I really think he drives well and in his whole attitude – and his mentality is really good.”
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