George Russell has denied that he has come into the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix with added motivation to avenge the podium he lost on the final lap last season.
Russell was running in third place in the closing stages 12 months ago when he tagged the wall on the approach to Turn 10 and he headed straight on into the barrier.
The Briton had been courting McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz on fresher rubber when he gave up a podium to Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
However, Russell, who has appeared on the rostrum three times in 2024, has insisted that his error last year has not seen him arrive in Singapore with a point to prove.
Asked whether he believes he has unfinished business in Singapore, Russell told media including Motorsport Week: “No, not really.
“It’s not really something I’m thinking about. It’s part of racing, part of street circuits. If you’re not 100% focused every single lap, you’re going to get bitten.
“It was a long old race. I was on the last lap. I thought the race was kind of done. And right behind Lando, he kissed the wall. I touched the wall. Before I knew it, I’m out of the race.
“But that’s how the game goes, and it’s not going to change my approach one bit, how I go into this weekend. You learn from things like that.”
Russell assesses Mercedes’ Singapore hopes
However, Russell is hoping that Mercedes’ W15 will materialise to be as competitive around the Marina Bay streets as its predecessor, which he put on the front row.
“Yeah, first of all, every race we go to at the moment, it’s quite a unique circuit,” Russell explained.
“Obviously, Azerbaijan was very unique in its own way. Singapore is unique in its own way. And there’s a lot of these types of tracks on the calendar.
“And as Oscar [Piastri] said, it’s so competitive now at the front. And a tenth or two can be the difference between a front row start or P6 or 7 on the grid, which is very exciting.
“We went really strong here last year. The pace was really good in Singapore. So hopefully we can continue that good performance we had here last year and see where it takes us.”
Mercedes has endured a disappointing run since the season restarted as it has been unable to maintain the race-winning momentum that it gained prior to the break.
Russell was bewildered with the pace in Baku last weekend which saw him struggle in the opening stint but end the race as the quickest car as he inherited a podium.
And while an additional DRS zone between Turns 14 and 16 will create another overtaking opening, the Briton still suspects that grid position will be vital in Singapore.
“We were really competitive in the second stint last week,” Russell recalled. “Definitely surprised ourselves there.
“But I think now this circuit, that extra DRS zone, I hope the racing will be slightly better. It’s not going to make it worse, that’s for sure. And maybe overtaking will be possible.
“So I think it will still go down to qualifying. That’s going to be key, getting a good Saturday in and that’ll set you up nicely for the race.”
