George Russell admitted he is “beyond disappointment” after another appalling example of rotten luck saw his Formula 1 title chances almost literally go up in smoke in Sepang.
The Brit looked set to finish on the podium in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, but with just a handful of laps to go, during a Safety Car period, his Mercedes W17 pulled off to the side of the circuit.
Russell retired with a suspected power unit failure, handing a further 18-point swing to teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who now leads the Drivers’ Championship standings by 84 points.
Russell’s DNF is another of a string of failures this season, which has blunted races and his title hopes.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, Russell conceded that he is now viewing the situation from the macabre perspective.
“You’ve almost got to laugh,” he said. “I’m beyond disappointment. So many times this season, it’s happened.
“It’s a real shame but but just keep on fighting, just keep on trying to go.
“The podium, of course, looked very certain. [It was a] Solid race, not an amazing race, but a solid race. But not the first time, so I’m pretty used to this feeling and these questions, let’s say.”
With seven races remaining, the prospect of Russell overturning the deficit will be slim, and whilst he fell short of conceding the title entirely, admitted that it will take a lot to catch up to the Italian.
“I don’t need to say, ‘I think it’s gone’ or whatever, but of course it’s exceptionally likely. And that’s just the reality,” he said. “I knew if I wanted to come back, I needed luck on my side.
“Unfortunately, I’ve had luck not on my side, so a three-point loss today, being behind Kimi, turned into an 18-point loss.
“Of course, if the issue was on the other side, it would have been an 18-point gain. So it’s a real shame but that’s just how it is.”
READ MORE – Kimi Antonelli makes Mercedes concession after Sepang F1 podium
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