Mercedes driver George Russell has spoken about his second-place finish at the British Grand Prix, highlighting his long connection to Silverstone after recovering from a slow puncture during the race.
Russell started the race fourth on the grid and was challenging Max Verstappen for third when a slow puncture forced an unscheduled pit stop. He dropped to seventh before a late safety car, triggered when Verstappen went into the gravel at Stowe corner, allowed him to stay out on track and inherit second place.
The 28-year-old described the moment on the new Silver Arrows Radio Show. "I feel very grateful to have stood up there because I went to Silverstone for the first time as an 11-year-old boy," he said. "And I won my first ever car race at Silverstone. It was the first time I drove an F1 car."
Russell added that the result came after a difficult season. "I didn't even really react. Because we've had our fair share of bad luck this year," he noted. He credited persistence for the outcome, saying the team had to keep pushing despite setbacks.