George Russell has called for Mercedes to give him “clarity” ahead of this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, after suffering from tyre trouble in the last two races.
The King’s Lynn-born driver hasn’t been a fan of his tyres in recent races, something which has been caused by separate problems.
At the United States Grand Prix, Russell encountered tyre trouble as he was told by Mercedes to save fuel, resulting in him driving slower which resulted in his tyres losing temperature.
Last Sunday at the Mexican Grand Prix, it was brake trouble which left Russell “driving on ice” in the closing stages.
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This allowed Daniel Ricciardo to attack him, although the Mercedes driver was able to defend P6 until the very end of the race.
Russell was comfortably beaten once again by Lewis Hamilton at the Mexican GP and also finished well behind the seven-time World Champion at the Circuit of the Americas, prior to his disqualification.
Being comfortably slower than the 38-year-old isn’t a concern for Russell, with him admitting after last Sunday’s race that he’s “not too worried” about it.
Russell’s key issue has been keeping his tyres in the right operating window, something which he expects to be easier in Brazil on Sunday.
Russell, of course, won the Brazilian Grand Prix last season and is keen to avoid the “pretty miserable feeling” he felt in Mexico City.
“It was like driving on ice for the last 15 laps, which was a pretty miserable feeling and I was very lucky to finish P6,” Russell said, as reported by The Mirror.
“We were strong here last year, we qualified on the front row and probably should have had a podium last year.
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“We’ve definitely performed well, but this weekend has been about tyres as it has been for everyone. Qualifying was a total surprise for many teams, for good or bad, but I’m hopeful Brazil won’t be that sensitive [on tyres].
“I’m not too worried because of the reason behind [the deficit to Hamilton]. It’s been two race weekends in a row, two different reasons.
“Last time [in the United States] it was the fuel [saving] which lost the tyres, this weekend it was the brakes. We need some clarity.”