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Jorge Russell says his bad luck “can’t last forever” and is hoping for “neutral luck” at this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Russell scored no points last time out in Monaco after a late drive-through penalty as Mercedes failed to serve a five-second penalty for speeding during a pit stop.
It means the British driver is now behind Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ championship and 68 points behind Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who has won five races in a row.
“I’m just dying to have a smooth weekend. I’m not asking the world for my luck, I’m just asking for unbiased luck. That’s how it goes in racing sometimes,” said Russell.
“Monaco and Miami, to be honest, my performance was not strong enough. The other four races, I think my performance was very strong.
“I probably could have got three more podiums if things had been normal. I didn’t need any luck, just normality. We’re there. There’s nothing I can change.
“I’m very focused on my controllability, what I can do to keep improving, and I’m feeling good, I’m feeling positive. If these things are out of my control, they’ll continue, and if I’m not, then great.”
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George Russell says he feels everything is going against him this season and the form of his teammate, Kimi Antonelli has not helped him personally.
The incident at Monaco followed a power unit problem in Canada where Russell retired from the lead which ended an epic battle between him and Antonelli.
Russell said he has “never had so many races against me”, but it “can’t last forever” as he looks to get into his deficit on Antonelli.
“Coming off the back of Monaco this week, I felt everything was going against me, and when you look at the headlines of where I am in the championship, Kimi’s run of form, it feels like a bit of a kick in the teeth,” he added.
“For me, it’s very helpful, very important, coming to Barcelona I feel in a good place, because I feel things I can control, it wasn’t a perfect season, but it was a good season and somewhere I can continue to build.”
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On The F1 Show Podcast, Craig Slater and David Croft discuss George Russell’s recent misfortunes, but say he needs to step up his performance to get back into contention with Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes could not appeal against Russell’s Monaco penalty
Russell was one of five drivers to receive a five-second penalty for speeding in Monaco. Alpine appealed Pierre Gasly’s penalty, as he was dropped from third to seventh, and won the first part of their review on Thursday.
Alpine argued that the official times and distances used to calculate pit lane speeds were “incorrect and overestimated the speed” Gasly was going.
The unique Monaco pit lane sees drivers effectively cutting the corner, as they have for years, which shortens the pit lane distance. This element appears to account for an unusually large number of speeding crimes.
Alpine also argued that the FIA and FOM (Formula One Management), the latter supplier of the timekeeping system, were aware of the error but the race stewards, who hand out penalties during races, were not. FIA and FOM representatives “strongly reject” the claim.
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Sky Sports’ Craig Slater and Karun Chandhok look at the penalty that ruined Pierre Gasly and Alpine’s chances of a podium finish in Monaco
A ruling is expected on Friday on whether Gasly is reinstated on the podium but Mercedes cannot appeal the race result as teams must request a right of review within 96 hours of a session.
Russell said: “That’s why I was begging them not to give me a drive-through penalty for a wrong-way penalty in the race because once you’ve had a drive-through, there’s nothing you can do.
“There was clearly something wrong in Monaco because you were at more pit lane pace in one race than you were all season.
“Pierre deserves his result back, but of course, from my side, it’s going to be very annoying, but it won’t change anything. The race is done now.”
Sky Sports F1’s Barcelona-Catalunya GP schedule
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Ahead of this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, we look back at some of the most dramatic moments from previous races at the circuit
Friday 12 June
8.50am: Exercised F3
10am: F2 exercise
12pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Practice One (Session starts at 12.30pm)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Practice Two (Session starts at 4pm)*
5.30pm: The F1 Show
6.30pm: Team bosses’ press conference
Saturday 13 June
9am: F3 sprint
11.15am: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Practice Three (Session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint*
2.15pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP qualifying build-up*
3pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Qualifying*
5pm: Ted’s qualifying notebook
Sunday 14 June
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: Porsche Supercup
10.20am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: Barcelona-Catalonia Grand Prix*
4pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Reaction: Checkered flag
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*Also on Sky Sports main events
Formula 1 is in Spain for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix with live coverage on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports now – no contract, cancel anytime
