Russell's impressive 2022 run ends after exiting F1 car to check on Guanyu's condition

George Russell has been in great form throughout 2022. Having joined the Mercedes-AMG team after a three-year spell at Williams, he hit the ground running and finished each of the opening nine races inside the top five. He even secured two podium finishes in the process.

Coming into his home race, the British Grand Prix, he was excited as he looked to wow the crowds and maybe even finish on the podium. Though qualifying didn't go to plan with rain wrecking plans and strategies, the Brit had it all to do starting in eighth place.

Sadly, Russell's race would not make it past the first turn as he crashed out in what would become one of the most spectacular incidents in recent memory. Thankfully, Russell and all those involved came away unscathed and will they participate in this weekend's Austrian GP.

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Today was a reminder that F1 remains a high-speed, high-risk sport that is always right on the edge.We are so thankful to the advances in safety that mean both Zhou Guanyu and Alex Albon are safe and well. pic.twitter.com/BJ8PPDG2av

An epic shunt

Getting off the line at the race's start, Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) positioned his car between Russell (on his right) and Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu. But Gasly got his positioning wrong and tangled with Russell's Mercedes.

The impact forced Russell's car to the left and into Guanyu's Alfa, sending the Chinese driver barrelling down the main straight before his car flipped over the barricades.

It was a nasty-looking incident, but several other drivers, including Alex Albon (Williams), were innocent victims.

Russell's car came to a standstill in the sand, but the Mercedes driver immediately