How Alonso inspired Russell’s ‘dream’ F1 Spanish GP start

George Russell was “dreaming” about replicating Fernando Alonso’s start to the 2011 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix with the move that saw him lead this term’s race.

Russell executed a lightning start from fourth place to pass team-mate Lewis Hamilton and then utilised a double slipstream from Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.

The Briton capitalised on the top two being preoccupied with each other and compromising their own lines to swoop around the outside and into an unexpected lead.

Russell has disclosed that he went to bed envisaging the iconic start Alonso made on home soil whilst with Ferrari when he also managed to rise from fourth to first.

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“Yeah, I was kind of dreaming of it last night and what my plan of attack was,” he said. “I saw the weather forecast and the wind had shifted to a headwind in Turn 1.

“Which I knew meant I could brake really late and deep into the corner. Yeah, I always, when I was racing karts.

“I always remember watching Fernando here in 2011, starting P4 and getting into the lead. So, I always knew it was possible.”

Russell also revealed that the changed wind direction prompted him to sample braking later and later into the opening corner across multiple reconnaissance tours.

“It was calculated risk,” he added. “I did four laps to the grid and I practised braking as late as possible on every single lap.

“So, I knew where the limit was, I knew how strong the wind was and I knew what was possible with the car.

“So, it was calculated risk and I was satisfied that we pulled it off.”

However, Verstappen would surge past Russell on the third lap using DRS and pulled clear at a rapid rate as the Mercedes held up the cars behind in the opening stint.

Russell was the earliest to stop from the frontrunners but a prolonged pit stop cost him crucial race trim and troubles on the Medium meant that he pitted onto Hards.

Meanwhile, Hamilton extended his middle stint to emerge out on the Soft compound at the end and he tracked down Russell to make an overtake stick to secure third.

Asked whether it was a frustrating result, Russell replied: “Yeah, a little bit. I think just a few small things went against us today.

“You know, the slow pit stop then put us on the back foot in the middle stint and under a bit of pressure.

“And lost a lot of time fighting with Lando, pitting onto the Hard tire. That was pretty rubbish, but it protected the P3 and P4 as a team and that’s what we were kind of aiming for.”

The one-time grand prix winner divulged Mercedes was aware the Hard was not the most suitable race tyre, but the team wanted to cover all avenues against Ferrari.

“We knew the Hard was not going to be a great tyre but we wanted to split the risk between Lewis and I because I think we extended, potentially could have been under threat by Charles [Leclerc] behind,” he explained. “So, as a team, it reduced the risk.

“Obviously, I felt a little bit disappointed not being on the podium but I was there last week, Lewis did a great job today and as a team.

“We’re taking the positives away from what’s been a really promising couple of races.”