News Summary
- George Russell finished fifth after starting sixth in the inaugural Spanish GP at Madring.
- The Mercedes driver said his race was compromised when the Virtual Safety Car arrived much earlier than his planned pit stop.
- Russell believes Madring needs changes because its longest straight does not lead into a conventional overtaking opportunity.
George Russell has called for changes to Madring after finishing fifth in the Spanish Grand Prix, arguing that the new Formula 1 circuit does not provide drivers with a clear enough opportunity to overtake.
The Mercedes driver started sixth and believed he had the pace to achieve more in Madrid, but his strategy was disrupted when Lance Stroll’s stopped Aston Martin triggered a Virtual Safety Car on lap 14.
While drivers on softer compounds were already approaching their planned pit windows, Russell had started on the hard tyre and expected to run considerably longer.
“The timing of the Safety Car was very frustrating,” Russell said after the race. “We were expecting to stop on lap 40. We knew Kimi and the drivers on the mediums and softs would stop on lap 15, and the Safety Car came on lap 14.”
The neutralisation ultimately helped team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who made a cheap stop and went on to win the inaugural Spanish GP at Madring.
Russell, meanwhile, was left trying to recover in a race where passing proved particularly difficult.
“The hard was by far the strongest tyre,” Russell said. “It would have been a big risk to stay on the medium. I thought I had nothing to lose at the end; I would have finished where I finished anyway.”
“It’s a shame. It’s a very difficult circuit to overtake on, which is frustrating for everybody.”
Russell’s criticism was consistent with concerns he had already raised before Sunday’s race. After qualifying, he told RacingNews365 that Madring lacked “clear overtaking opportunities”, specifically highlighting how the circuit’s longest straight feeds into the tight Turns 5-6 roundabout rather than a conventional heavy-braking passing zone.
His opinion was unchanged after completing the Grand Prix.
“The performance was much better than the result,” Russell said. “The pace was really strong — among the strongest on track. So I take the positives.”
But Russell believes Formula 1 and the Madring organisers need to address the layout before the championship returns to Madrid.
“It was like Monaco in terms of qualifying being everything,” he said. “They need to do something, make a change, because every track needs to have an overtaking opportunity at the end of the straight.”
“Here, you’ve got a tight chicane and corners. It’s a real challenge, but it’s not enjoyable.”
Russell was not alone in reaching that conclusion after Madrid’s first F1 race. Oscar Piastri said Monaco was the only circuit where overtaking was more difficult, while Fernando Alonso also called for modifications after struggling to make progress.
Despite finishing fifth, Russell remains second in the Drivers’ Championship. Antonelli’s victory increased his advantage over his Mercedes team-mate to 81 points.
Formula 1 returns with the Azerbaijan GP in Baku on September 24-26.
FAQ
What did George Russell say about Madring?
Russell said Madring needs a change because its longest straight does not provide a clear conventional overtaking opportunity. He described the circuit as challenging but said the racing experience was “not enjoyable”.
Why was Russell frustrated by the Virtual Safety Car?
Russell started on the hard tyre and expected to pit around lap 40. The VSC arrived on lap 14, benefiting drivers who were already approaching their planned stops and undermining his long first stint.
Where did Russell finish the Spanish GP?
Russell finished fifth after starting sixth. He remains second in the 2026 F1 standings with 211 points, 81 behind Antonelli.
