George Russell says he felt “hurt” and “very disappointed” after missing out on pole position for the Sao Paulo (Brazilian) Grand Prix, even though a grid penalty meant he knew he would not start from pole. Multiple outlets report that he framed the outcome as painful because qualifying still appeared to offer the chance of winning pole.
The coverage links his frustration to decisions and communication during qualifying. Several sources say Russell believed Mercedes made a “misjudgement” or an “error” that cost him pole, and one outlet says he was instructed by his team to back off on his final flying lap at Interlagos. Autosport and Motorsport.com also add that Russell faced media after weather-affected qualifying, describing his visible reaction at the post-session press conference.
While all accounts centre on Russell’s own explanation and emotions, the outlets differ slightly in the emphasis they place on the penalty versus what he felt Mercedes got wrong. Most treat the grid penalty as context, not the cause of his anger.
