Mercedes
Each Mercedes drivers had an eventful time of it in Zandvoort – however not essentially for the precise causes. Russell was battling with Leclerc for a lot of the race, however picked up automobile harm when the Ferrari fought previous in a bolshy transfer that was investigated after the race. That harm led to Russell letting Antonelli by way of, the teen having climbed by way of the sector due to an aggressive first cease that undercut him previous some rivals. However then when Antonelli pitted once more, Ferrari introduced Leclerc in to counter. Sensing his likelihood, the rookie tried to ship it up the within into Flip 3 – however acquired it mistaken and tagged the facet of Leclerc. That landed him with a puncture, a 10-second time penalty for inflicting a collision after which a five-second time penalty for dashing within the pit lane after fixing mentioned puncture. As for Russell, regardless of his harm he climbed to fourth when these two tangled.
George Russell, 4th
“Immediately was a tricky race for us. After the contact with Charles (Leclerc), I picked up a number of ground harm. The chicane is just not a spot you see many individuals overtake as a result of the racing line naturally takes you in the direction of the apex and the gravel. It was an optimistic transfer, and the contact successfully introduced my race when it comes to combating for the rostrum to the end. I used to be shedding near half-a-second a lap after that so to complete P4 was most likely higher than anticipated.
“With all that mentioned, we didn’t have the strongest efficiency this weekend and a podium would have been unlikely. Isack (Hadjar) ran an incredible race, and he fully deserves this podium. P4 is just not the place we wish to be, however we will be glad that we gained factors on Ferrari within the Constructors’ Championship. Onwards to Monza.”
Kimi Antonelli, sixteenth
“The result of right this moment’s race was such a disgrace. Our tempo was actually sturdy, and I used to be feeling nice within the automobile. Regardless of beginning P11, I’d gained a number of positions and was looking forward to see if we might get ourselves into the struggle for the rostrum. We definitely would have achieved a superb consequence if it weren’t for the incident with Leclerc.
“As we closed on Charles, we noticed a chance to attempt the undercut. We gained time by doing so and we emerged nearly collectively on observe. I attempted to maintain it tight into Flip 3 as he got here out however sadly, despite the fact that the oversteer from my facet was not that large, I couldn’t keep away from contact as he was coming down the banking. Sorry to Charles and Ferrari because it by no means feels good to take somebody out and finish their race like this.
“I’m now trying ahead to Monza, my second dwelling race. Single lap work is my precedence as clearly beginning on the entrance for every Grand Prix could be extra useful for us. The constructive we are able to take from Zandvoort is that our tempo was sturdy so we are going to proceed to work arduous and I’m positive the outcomes will come quickly.”
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“Immediately was a very difficult race for each our drivers with loads of incidents on observe. In the end, it’s a disgrace for each as they might have been combating for greater than what they achieved right this moment if issues had performed out otherwise.
“For the reason that starting of the season, Kimi has made large progress. We noticed right this moment as soon as once more how sturdy his tempo was as he made his method by way of the sector. He was sadly simply barely too optimistic together with his transfer on Charles (Leclerc) and that value each him and the Ferrari. That mentioned, we wish him to be aggressive and chase each alternative he can on observe. That’s what he did right this moment and it’s a disgrace that it didn’t work out.
“For George, he was the unfortunate social gathering in his personal incident. It was a dangerous transfer by Charles, too dangerous in my view, and George suffered harm. This value him the possibility to struggle for the rostrum and probably a couple of extra factors within the championship. He did properly to carry his automobile dwelling in P4 although. We now stay up for Monza and hopefully can come away from there with a more healthy haul of factors.”
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director
“Immediately was a messy, incident stuffed race the place we finally weren’t fast sufficient to struggle for the highest three, however as a workforce we acquired the necessary choices right. Each drivers misplaced locations on the opening lap which made life harder. We benefited from the early Security Automotive although. George was in a position to transfer forward of Charles (Leclerc), and Kimi made a number of locations throughout the stops and took the restart in P8.
“George had been fighting an absence of entrance grip, and he misplaced a spot with the contact after the Digital Security Automotive restart with Charles. Extra annoyingly, he picked up a considerable amount of harm and that damage him for the rest of the race. We due to this fact requested George to let Kimi by way of, and he was in a position to shut on the Ferrari. We determined to transform to a two cease and try the undercut; Ferrari lined and after they got here collectively at Flip 3 Kimi picked up harm and a penalty. That principally put him out of the factors, but it surely was good that George was in a position to carry his broken automobile dwelling in P4. We’ll work arduous to realize a cleaner extra aggressive weekend at Monza in a couple of days’ time.”
