Russell calls for F1 reaction to key issue

11:00, 08 Apr

Updated: 16:17, 08 Apr

byEwan Gale

Mercedes driver George Russell is hopeful Formula 1 can "react" to the lack of action in the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix.

Overtaking came at a premium in both the sprint and grand prix at the Shanghai International Circuit - where Oscar Piastri led home a McLaren one-two in the main event - while on-track action was even more scarce at Suzuka last weekend.

The top six finished in the same positions as they qualified in Japan which marked the first time this feat had been achieved in F1 history, with Max Verstappen leading Lando Norris and teammate Piastri to the podium positions.

Russell finished fifth behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and pointed to the selection of tyre compounds by Pirelli given resurfacing work at both tracks as a potential reason for the lack of racing spectacle.

"These last two weekends, I think the tyre compounds have just been too hard for the resurfacing," explained Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.

"It's been an easy one-stop for both races, and that's just really taken any fun from the strategy. I hope we can maybe react as a sport because we all finished where we started and there just wasn't enough difference in the tyre degradation."

Russell sees positives in lessons learned

Sunday was the first time Russell had failed to reach the podium this season, instead spending the race behind Leclerc and settling for another haul of points.

But the Briton has pointed to the positives from the weekend despite missing out on what he believes was the team's 'maximum' result.

"I think I learned plenty about the car this weekend, so that is the positive of the weekend really," said Russell.

"As much as we are disappointed with the fourth place, we should be happy maximising the result and we should be happy about all the lessons learned this weekend."