Russell warns Mercedes cannot rely on others’ misfortune

George Russell was understandably pleased to notch another podium finish in Baku, but warned that Mercedes need to start getting there on merit instead of profiting from retirements further ahead.

Both Ferrari drivers retired from the race in Azerbaijan on Sunday, with Carlos Sainz’s hydraulic issue followed by an engine problem for Charles Leclerc that ended his race 20 laps in.

Russell made the most of the problems Ferrari suffered to earn his third podium of the season, but Mercedes are still comfortably slower than the front-runners in single-lap and race trim.

Russell’s label has changed this season from being widely known as ‘Mr Saturday’ to reflect his impressive qualifying performances, to ‘Mr Consistent’ – reflecting the fact he is the only driver to score points in every race so far this season, finishing within the top five each time to boot.

He now sits a comfortable fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, and Russell echoed Max Verstappen’s sentiment that “you’ve got to keep scoring” to have a chance in a title fight, adding: “You know, this is a championship where you’ve got the chance to score every single race and it doesn’t matter how fast your car is, if you’re not scoring those points, then your tally is not going to increase.

Charles Leclerc's last five races…

Imola: Qualified P2, finishes P6

Miami: Qualified P1, finishes P2

Spain: Qualified P1, DNF

Monaco: Qualified P1, finishes P4

Baku: Qualified P1, DNF#F1 pic.twitter.com/8ocUYBI7Tz

— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) June 12, 2022

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