George Russell looks back on his duel with Sergio Perez at Monza
George Russell revisited the duel he ultimately won against Sergio Perez this Sunday during the Italian Grand Prix. The Mercedes and Red Bull drivers narrowly avoided contact at nearly 340 km/h.
Starting third on the grid at Monza on Sunday, George Russell endured a tough race, damaging his Mercedes’ front wing as early as the first lap. After coming out in 12th position following his second pit stop, the Englishman nevertheless began climbing back through the pack to secure some points in the championship.
However, George Russell had a fright on the 38th lap as he was catching up to Sergio Pérez’s Red Bull, which was in eighth place. Very defensive, the Mexican tried to keep the British driver behind him as he approached at nearly 340 km/h. At the limits of the track, George Russell managed to overtake Checo before entering the Variante del Rettifilo.
I thought I was going to take off
Finally crossing the finish line in 7th position, George Russell revisited this duel in the mixed zone. « Pleasure? I’m not sure we can call that “pleasure”, as I thought I was going to take off when he squeezed me at 340 km/h », reacted the Mercedes driver. « But well, it was a tough race and I am at least happy to have gained a position. »
Without consequences, this high-speed duel did not lead to explanations between the two pilots, George Russell not seeing the need for it: “There is nothing to say. We didn’t crash in the end, and I passed him, but if I had been half a centimeter closer, it could have been a different story.” Overtaking the Red Bull driver by one position at the finish, the Briton therefore regained two points from Max Verstappen’s teammate in the drivers’ standings, respectively 8th and 7th (128 points against 148).
