George Russell has slammed the decision to introduce the first red flag of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix as “totally unnecessary” as he lamented a wretched outing at Melbourne’s Albert Park.
The Mercedes driver bombed out as fire and smoke billowed from the back of his car on lap 18, forcing him into only his second retirement since switching from Williams after the 2021 world championship.
But the Englishman’s woes began when, on lap seven, race control implemented a red flag following an Alex Albon crash.
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Albon was placed sixth when he lost control at turn seven, destroying his Williams in the process.
A safety car was called upon and Russell, leading the field, took the opportunity to pit for a change of tyres as his rivals were forced to slow down.
But the decision to red-flag the race due to gravel on the track gave Russell’s opponents a free change of tyres and left the 25-year-old restarting in seventh.
Formula 1 reporter Luke Smith wrote on Twitter that Russell branded the decision to red-flag the race as “totally unnecessary”.
Russell was also critical of the decision as he spoke to Formula 1 TV.
“Pretty disappointed initially with the decision to red-flag the race,” Russell said.
“No words for that.
“Obviously we had a similar situation in Saudi (Arabia) with the safety car coming out in unnecessary circumstances.
“But I thought we made the right decision, pitted, I think it was the right call under the safety car.
“I was surprised when I saw Lewis (Hamilton) and Max (Verstappen) stay out, and I was kind of pretty pleased when I saw that, because I thought it played right into my hands.
“And then obviously the red flag ruined things.
“Restart was good.
“Would have been difficult to overtake Fernando (Alonso), I think, but we were right there.
“It’s just such a shame to be sitting here right now.”
Russell’s day grew even more disastrous when fire and smoke billowing from the back of his Mercedes forced him to retire.
“I guess when it’s not your day, it’s not your day,” he wrote on Twitter.
The Australian Grand Prix was red-flagged on three occasions.
The race was halted after Kevin Magnussen crashed at turn two on lap 55, with his rear-right wheel falling off as debris from his Haas sprawled across the track.
The race was then stopped again as mayhem reigned following a restart on lap 57, with Carlos Sainz clipping Alonso at turn one, leading to Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon colliding.
The race eventually ended as Verstappen cruised to victory behind a safety car.
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