George Russell admits Lewis Hamilton would have overtaken him without safety car at Silverstone

Follow us on Google Discover

George Russell was one of the main beneficiaries of Sunday’s British Grand Prix finishing behind the safety car.

Russell and Mercedes opted to stay out when Max Verstappen’s retirement triggered the safety car on lap 48 out of 52.

But Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari took the gamble to pit for fresh tyres in the belief that the race would be restarted. He came out a fraction behind Russell, dropping one place.

What are your thoughts on the British Grand Prix ending behind the safety car?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

George Russell knew he was in trouble if British Grand Prix restarted

As he revealed to Sky Sports F1 afterwards, Russell feared that he would lose multiple positions if the race did restart.

But because race control didn’t allow the lapped cars to overtake until lap 51 out of 52, they couldn’t pull the safety car in before the end, as per the regulations.

“For the fans, they would have loved to have seen it [a racing lap],” Russell said. “Considering I was on old tyres, cold tyres, everyone was on a new, hot tyres, I would have lost at least a position.

“I was glad to see it finish like that!”

• READ MORE: What David Croft saw British GP fans doing from commentary box after safety car stayed out

It looked as if Russell’s hopes of scoring a podium had vanished when Mercedes informed him of a slow puncture, forcing him into an unplanned pit stop. He had been battling Verstappen and Hamilton for P3 at the time.

However, Antonelli’s car damage and Verstappen’s DNF promoted him back to the runner-up spot behind Charles Leclerc.

Strategically, it made sense to do the opposite to Hamilton in that scenario. McLaren’s Lando Norris, two spots behind Russell in fourth, had also fitted fresh tyres.

With Antonelli’s track limits penalty demoting him out of the points, Russell gains 18 on his teammate and title rival. He has now picked up 43 since his disastrous Monaco weekend, narrowing the gap to 25 – the equivalent of one race win.