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Motorsport

Russell frustrated by "infuriating" McLaren Qatar F1 sprint race tactics

Qatar Grand Prix George Russell McLaren Oscar Piastri Lando Norris Qatar Mercedes

George Russell labelled McLaren's tactics "infuriating" after being relegated to third place in the Qatar F1 sprint, having qualified second and fallen fractionally short of pole position yesterday.

McLaren's Lando Norris claimed pole, with team-mate Oscar Piastri in third, but the Australian made a bold move past Russell's Mercedes around the outside into Turn 2 on the opening lap to claim second place.

Thereafter the McLarens teamed up to keep Russell in check as Norris, having initially pulled away, dropped back slightly to keep Piastri in the DRS window.

Russell also had DRS and lunged up the inside into Turn 1 at the beginning of the third and fourth laps, only to have the door closed robustly. On both attempts the defensive move came so late, and the cars came so close to touching, that Russell fulminated over the team radio.

At the beginning of the final lap Russell tried again but once again the McLaren's rear wing fully occupied his field of vision. Norris then let Piastri pass to win the race.

"It was very close into Turn 1 on a couple of occasions," said Russell. "It was so frustrating every lap, Lando backing up, giving Oscar the DRS.

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24 (Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images)

"Obviously I understand why they did that. But when you're out here, you're fighting. You want to give it everything, and you want to put a race on for the fans. It was just pretty infuriating.

To be honest, I struggled towards the end, but I think Lando had some good pace. Oscar was struggling a little bit, so it would have been good to be able to go head-to-head with Lando and see what the true pace would have been – as I think he had quite a lot in the pocket, just giving Oscar the DRS."

"I basically got a bit of clean air and went around the outside [at the start]," said Piastri. "The rest of the race was pretty tough, to be honest."

"It would have been tough [to keep Russell behind without DRS from Norris]. Teamwork definitely helped today because George was very fast."

Photos from Qatar GP Sprint Race

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, and Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 2nd position, celebrate after the Sprint

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Fans of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Alex Albon, Williams Racing

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Susie Wolff, Managing Director, F1 Academy, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, with Doriane Pin, PREMA Racing

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Valtteri Bottas, KICK Sauber

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

A DJ performs on the grid

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team, Mark Slade, Race Engineer, Haas F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, Tom Stallard, Race Engineer, McLaren F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Valtteri Bottas, KICK Sauber

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, battle as sparks fly

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, trails sparks as he battles with Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, leads Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 2nd position, Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, congratulate each other in Parc Ferme

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, 3rd position, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 2nd position

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Khaby Lame, Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 2nd position, George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, 3rd position

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, is returned to the garage

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, pose for pictures in Parc Ferme

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Saturday

Formula 1

52

In this article

Stuart Codling

Formula 1

George Russell

Mercedes

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