George Russell delivered an trustworthy evaluation following a difficult qualifying session on the Miami Grand Prix, admitting that nothing gave the impression to be clicking for him on monitor.
Russell certified fifth in Miami, just below two-tenths away from pole-sitter Max Verstappen.
It was the primary time this season that Russell had been out-qualified by teammate Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian has loved a positive weekend, storming to pole in dash qualifying.
A pit lane incident with Verstappen ruined Antonelli’s dash race, as Pink Bull launched the Dutchman into the trail of the Mercedes.
Nevertheless, Antonelli bounced again to qualify third for the grand prix, simply behind Verstappen and Lando Norris.
Reflecting on his personal qualifying, Russell conceded that he’s been “actually struggling” this weekend.
“I’ve been actually struggling at present, to be trustworthy. This complete weekend has simply not been clicking for me,” Russell mentioned after qualifying.
“Quali’s been an actual power of mine this season, however clearly no matter’s been working so effectively this yr for me, it doesn’t work right here in Miami. And Kimi’s been doing an awesome job.
“For me, worst quali of the yr, but it surely might have been worse. I used to be actually stunned to be this near pole place as a result of it felt actually dangerous on the market.
“I didn’t really feel assured in myself and I knew I couldn’t drive to my potential as a result of I didn’t have the boldness. Days like this, it’s kind of injury limitation – so P5 was an excellent factor all issues thought-about.”
Russell has “taken a step backwards”
Together with Verstappen, Russell has been one in every of F1’s most constant performers in 2025.
His sturdy run of outcomes means he is fourth within the drivers’ standings, simply 26 factors behind Piastri.
Russell elaborated on why he has been struggling this weekend: “It’s the way you drive all the time places the tyres in a barely completely different window. And clearly Kimi, from lap one this weekend, he’s been actually on it.
“He’s been exceptionally quick, doing a tremendous job – and for myself, I’ve taken a step backwards, so what’s labored for me for these first 5 races didn’t work right here in Miami.
“With dash races, if you begin on the again foot, it’s a bit troublesome to show it round and that was the case. I used to be all the time struggling so much in that center sector, sector two – the entrance finish was simply not coming to me.
“Pirelli elevated the pressures final night time which compounded the difficulty, and we all know that out of the highest 4 groups we’re most likely the worst in maintaining the temperature out of the tyres.
“It’s so shut on the market on a single lap, however I sadly anticipate that hole to increase tomorrow.”
