Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

George Russell explains disadvanatage Max Verstappen suffers with F1 Qatar GP grid demotion

by Dan Lawrence
9 months ago
A A
George Russell explained starting from the right hand side of the grid in Qatar is tough

George Russell explained starting from the right hand side of the grid in Qatar is tough

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Max Verstappen will start from the dirty side of the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix grid and George Russell explained how great a disadvantage this will be.

Verstappen initially beat Russell to pole position at the Lusail International Circuit by just 0.055s, but the tables would later turn.

The Red Bull driver was summoned to the stewards for slowing unnecessarily in front of his Mercedes rival on a cool-down lap and was demoted one place on the grid for Sunday’s race.

Prior to learning of his promotion to pole position, Russell explained that starting from second on the pit-wall side of the grid was a significant challenge.

RelatedPosts

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he is not adverse to the idea of a Ferrari team ploy in Italian GP qualifying

Lewis Hamilton quizzed on willingness to play Ferrari team game in F1 Italian GP qualifying

2 hours ago
Pierre Gasly has signed a long-term deal to remain with Alpine

Pierre Gasly commits to long-term F1 deal with Alpine until 2028

3 hours ago

“Those inside starting positions were really tricky [in the Sprint],” Russell said.

“I think every driver on the right-hand side made a poor start and that ultimately cost me the chance to fight with Lando [Norris].”

Indeed, in the Sprint, starting from second, Russell ultimately lost out to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who he failed to pass for the remainder of the 19-lap race.

Now, Verstappen will have to contend with starting from the right-hand side second-place starting berth, handing Russell the best opportunity to claim the holeshot in the GP.

Explaining just how much pace can be lost on the dirty side of the grid, Russell said: “It’s probably about one and a half cars length difference from the inside all the way to Turn 1.

“We normally judge it based on distance in four seconds, and we think it’s probably about four metres different left to right.

“It’s, yeah, I mean, it’s quite a big difference here. I hope the guys tonight or the track can clean it a bit because it was pretty clear in the sprint that everyone on that right side made bad starts and that’s obviously a little bit unfair to have those circumstances.”

George Russell will line up first for the Qatar GP after a Max Verstappen penalty
George Russell will line up first for the Qatar GP after a Max Verstappen penalty

George Russell predicts really close fight with Max Verstappen and company in Qatar

Regardless of which side of the grid Russell and Verstappen launch from, the duo were neck and neck throughout qualifying.

The pace differential between the pair was minimal, setting up an intriguing proposition for the Grand Prix.

In addition, the likes of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc were only a couple of tenths behind the leading pair in qualifying and Russell predicts there will be a really close fight.

“Now, obviously, [together with] Max up front, I think it’s going to be a really close fight between, I mean, all four teams,” he said.

“Ferrari looked on the same pace as Lando and myself [in the Sprint].

“So, I mean, I hope it’s going to be a good one, but the tyres seem pretty resilient.

“Maybe we’ll see another DRS train, I don’t know.”

READ MORE – Max Verstappen penalty hands George Russell F1 Qatar GP pole

Tags: F1George RussellMax VerstappenMercedesQatarGPRedBull
Share210Tweet131Share

Related Posts

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he is not adverse to the idea of a Ferrari team ploy in Italian GP qualifying
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton quizzed on willingness to play Ferrari team game in F1 Italian GP qualifying

2 hours ago
Pierre Gasly has signed a long-term deal to remain with Alpine
Formula 1

Pierre Gasly commits to long-term F1 deal with Alpine until 2028

3 hours ago
Liam Lawson is focused on performing well enough to secure a Racing Bulls seat in F1 next year
Formula 1

Liam Lawson unsure of ‘what’s going on’ amid aim to retain Racing Bulls F1 seat

4 hours ago
Load More

Discussion about this post

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
16Italian GP05-07 September
17Azerbaijan GP19-21 September
18Singapore GP03-05 October
19United States GP17-19 October
20Mexico City GP24-26 October

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri309
Lando Norris275
Max Verstappen205
George Russell184
Charles Leclerc151
Lewis Hamilton109
Andrea Kimi Antonelli64
Alexander Albon64
Nico Hulkenberg37
Isack Hadjar37

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he is not adverse to the idea of a Ferrari team ploy in Italian GP qualifying
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton quizzed on willingness to play Ferrari team game in F1 Italian GP qualifying

September 6, 2025
Pierre Gasly has signed a long-term deal to remain with Alpine
Formula 1

Pierre Gasly commits to long-term F1 deal with Alpine until 2028

September 6, 2025
Liam Lawson is focused on performing well enough to secure a Racing Bulls seat in F1 next year
Formula 1

Liam Lawson unsure of ‘what’s going on’ amid aim to retain Racing Bulls F1 seat

September 6, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd