George Russell spoke about the alterations to the Australian Grand Prix track after walking away from a frightening crash there in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
On the penultimate lap of last season’s Australian GP, Russell lost control of his Mercedes at the entry to Turn 6 whilst hunting down Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso.
Oversteer caused the Briton to slide off into the gravel trap before a heavy impact with the barriers, as he was catapulted back out onto the racing line with his damaged Silver Arrows car.
Luckily, drivers behind him managed to avoid the wreckage before the red flag was brought out, much to the relief of the distressed Russell, who argued afterwards that the officials took too long to come to his aid.
However, the organisers of the event have taken precautions to ensure this doesn’t happen again, with key modifications made to the Albert Park Circuit.
Speaking on the adjustments, the 27-year-old believed there have been slight improvements to reduce the risk of being collected by another car after a crash.
“Yeah, I know there’s been changes to the circuit through that corner,” Russell said.
“There’s been a few big crashes there and, obviously, it was a big one in itself.
“I’m fortunate I didn’t get collected afterwards.
“I think the duty lies on the FIA, to be honest, in this regard.
“I think the people around the circuit have done everything they can to make that corner slightly better if you were to have a crash so… it’s part of racing, it’s the dangers that we involve ourselves with.
“It’s when you push the limits and you’re going for everything, it sometimes bites – but I trust in the people.”
Albon hails change as ‘the right thing to do’
One driver who agreed with Russell’s comments on the track layout adaptations was Alex Albon, who praised the “initiative” shown by the race organisers.
“I think it’s a great corner,” Albon told media including Motorsport Week.
“We talked about it a few years before, trying to get that corner changed, and I think, for whatever reason, maybe it was a harder thing to do back in the day.
“But as the crashes kept happening and the consistency of the crashes, of the cars coming back onto the track were happening as well, it’s great that they’ve taken the initiative to do it.
“It’s the right thing to do.
“I think the corner’s not going to be any worse.
“They haven’t taken away the feedback from it.
“It’s more just that curve was very unpredictable, and the cars are running so low nowadays that they were creating almost, not random crashes, but unpredictable landing crashes.
“I think, hopefully, you’ve seen it already this year, at the end of last year, it does feel like the FIA are making a step in terms of improving the tracks, reducing the track limits, making sure that it’s gravel rather than run-off, and getting rid of that unpredictability, which I think is going towards a good direction.”
FIA confirm Albert Park layout changes
The 2025 F1 season kicks off in Australia for the first time since 2019.
Ahead of the highly anticipated first race, however, the FIA has announced alterations to the circuit.
A spokesperson from the governing body confirmed: “Following a review of last year’s event at Albert Park, several changes to Turn 6 and Turn 7 have been approved in collaboration with the local ASN and the grand prix organisers.
“The kerb at the exit of Turn 6 through entry and apex of Turn 7 has been replaced with a single specification of negative kerb.
“This adjustment removes the transition from negative to positive kerb that was present in this area, which previously had been addressed by local modification (grinding) of the kerb to provide a smoother transition between kerb types.
“The intent is to remove the possibility of this transition destabilising a car.
“Additionally, the gravel trap now extends to the back of the kerb and the barrier on the left-hand side of Turn 7 has also been moved and re-profiled to mitigate the possibility of a car coming to rest in a position near the racing line following an impact with the energy absorbing barrier in this area.
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