George Russell has explained Toto Wolff’s “just drive” radio message during Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix that was a way to encourage the Briton who went on to secure pole position.
Russell took pole in Austria, beating both Ferrari drivers and his team-mate Kimi Antonelli, but the session was far from straightforward for the Mercedes driver. He was fifth in Q1, more than 0.3s slower than Antonelli, and then had to abort his first attempt in Q2 after a mistake at Turn 3, leaving himself vulnerable at the end of the segment.