George Russell admitted that the controversial single yellow flag that allowed him to take pole for the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix should have been a double.
Max Verstappen’s Q3 crash at the Red Bull Ring and subsequent yellow flag were a major source of controversy last weekend. Speaking to the media, including Motorsport Week, ahead of the British Grand Prix, Russell admitted that the session should have ended under double yellow flags for Verstappen’s car in the wall at turn 9.
This would have required Russell to abort his flying lap that would put him on pole, as teammate Antonelli mistakenly did. However, the British driver still defended the marshals and the FIA’s decisions.
He argued that the FIA were doing as drivers had previously requested in regards to single or double yellows.
“I think it stemmed from Baku, when a lot of drivers would lock-up and they would run down the escape road, and the drivers felt at the time that should not be a double yellow, because it completely ruins the lap of another driver, but a single would be sufficient, unless the FIA thought otherwise. So that was kind of the rule of thumb that has been taken forward, that whenever there’s an incident in qualifying, it would be a single yellow.”
‘Of course’ Verstappen crash should have been a double yellow
Russell went on to state that the trackside marshals are volunteers having to react as quickly as possible to incidents.
“People also have to remember the person putting out the single yellow is a volunteer. The marshal at the side of the track, that isn’t the FIA to start with. Then the FIA review it, and then they would upgrade it, if they think it’s necessary.
“Obviously I’ve been talking now for 30 seconds in that answer, and they need to react in the space of five seconds, six seconds, 10 seconds. That just isn’t possible sometimes.
“So, should that incident have been a double yellow? Of course it should have been. But there are many times in the past where drivers say it shouldn’t have been a double yellow, and single yellow is sufficient, so it’s not an easy job they have.”
Russell went on to win the Austrian Grand Prix, his first win since the season opener in Melbourne. He goes into his home race weekend 40 points behind his Italian teammate, and just 6 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton who sits third in the Driver’s Standings.
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