Just ask George Russell, who lived through an almost identical hell in the most recent race. Only a technical failure with the Drag Reduction System (DRS) came close to ruining his performance. What transpired was an unintentional but perfect storm, thanks to a mis-triggered DRS that kicked off wildly unintended consequences all around the track.
The DRS assists drivers in making passing moves by reducing aerodynamic drag. This is so they can accelerate to greater speeds on limited straight parts of the track. In this case, the DRS triggered at a distance of 37 meters. The straight where this took place measured only 700 meters in length. The key detail is that the activation occurred even though it was illegal to do so. This begs a larger, significant question about how external timing systems operate in emergent circumstances.
Technical Malfunction
A third party supplied the timing computer, but there was a glitch. In turn, that forced Russell to use the manual DRS button on his steering wheel. That surprise engagement allowed him to instantly pick up 0.02 seconds over the entire lap. His lead didn’t last long, as he then lost 0.28s at the very next corner.
The failure forced Russell to make a last-second decision to reverse his usage of the DRS after activation. This fast rule, of course, meant that he received no tangible benefit from the mistake.
“We basically were having all sorts of failures and we did an override on the DRS. And on one lap, I clicked the radio button and the DRS opened, so I straightaway closed it again, backed off – nothing gained.” – George Russell
Though the situation was odd given the DRS activation, race stewards decided not to penalize Russell in any way. They ruled out sensor issues and discovered that the activation was the result of a fault in the timing system. It wasn’t due to any willful misconduct on his part. While this decision freed him to pursue his agenda, it did so without further accountability from the race regulators.
Stewards’ Decision
Russell acknowledged the situation but remained focused on his performance and finishing position.
His reflections highlight both the technical challenges faced during the race and his determination to keep competing despite those setbacks.
“I lost more than I gained, it was only open for a split second, so kind of goes to show you the amount of issues we were having.” – George Russell
In the end, Russell’s experience battling challengers such as Lando Norris made all the difference against challengers like George Russell. Despite technical difficulties with his steering wheel, he managed to hold onto second place until the end of the race.
Race Outcome
Ultimately, Russell’s ability to fend off challenges from competitors like Lando Norris proved significant. Despite technical difficulties with his steering wheel, he managed to hold onto second place until the end of the race.
“I was pretty pleased when I saw the chequered flag, to be honest.” – George Russell
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