George Russell expressed his frustration with McLaren’s tactics during the Qatar sprint race, particularly with the team orders that led to Oscar Piastri securing the victory. Russell, who finished third, criticized the way Lando Norris slowed down during the race to help his teammate Piastri by allowing him to stay within DRS range and fend off Russell’s challenge. Norris made the strategic decision to move over on the final lap, allowing Piastri to pass and claim the win as part of a prearranged plan to repay Piastri for giving up the victory in Brazil.
Russell, however, was less than pleased with the situation. He commented, “It was very close to Turn 1 on a couple of occasions. It was obviously so frustrating every lap, Lando backing up, giving Oscar the DRS.” He understood the reasoning behind the tactics but expressed frustration at the lack of a competitive race, saying, “When you’re out here, you’re fighting, you want to give it everything, and you want to put a race on, for the fans, it was just pretty infuriating.”
Despite his irritation with the sprint race, Russell was more optimistic about the upcoming full-length grand prix. He will start Sunday’s race from pole position, ahead of Max Verstappen, who was initially the pole sitter but was penalized for “driving unnecessarily slowly” during qualifying. Russell, reflecting on the qualifying session, noted that he was “surprised” by the improvement in Verstappen’s performance and highlighted the importance of a competitive race for all drivers.
Norris, on the other hand, defended McLaren’s decision to help Piastri, stating that he had already decided in Brazil that he would return the favor if the opportunity arose. However, Norris also made it clear that he would not be as generous during the grand prix, adding, “I think we still have a good chance… I don’t think we’re as quick as the Mercedes,” acknowledging the competitive nature of the upcoming race.
