Mercedes matched its lowest qualifying result in 350 Formula 1 sessions during the Belgian Grand Prix sprint, with George Russell starting 13th and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli lining up 20th on the grid. This result ties their worst qualifying performance, previously recorded at a sprint race earlier in 2023.
The only other time Mercedes qualified this far back was at the 2023 sprint race held at the Red Bull Ring, where Russell was 15th and Lewis Hamilton started 18th, marking a rare low point for the Silver Arrows.
Antonelli’s Qualifying Hampered by Spin at Spa-Francorchamps
Andrea Kimi Antonelli struggled to set a competitive lap in sprint qualifying after spinning into the gravel at the Stavelot corner, ultimately finishing 3.6 seconds off the pace. When asked if wind conditions contributed to his spin, the Italian rookie expressed uncertainty, saying it was a “pretty decent lap” until he lost control, potentially due to a gust.
“The car felt good over that lap, so definitely confident for tomorrow. We’ll just try to reset and look for tomorrow.”
—Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Russell’s Qualifying Performance Affected by Track Conditions
George Russell advanced smoothly through the first qualifying segment with fifth place but was unable to improve beyond 13th in the next stage, trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris by nearly nine-tenths of a second. Russell described his lap times as having a “terrible” feeling due to car handling issues, which he partly attributed to running over gravel left on the track after his teammate’s off-track excursion.
“We’ve had the pace all day. In Q1 I ran over all that gravel, when Kimi went off; for the rest of that lap it felt terrible, the lap after it felt terrible, and then my lap in Q2 felt terrible.”
“We saw some damage on the car; we need to see if that’s the reason, because obviously it’s a big shock to be out in Q2 and obviously the gap was so big. I’m sure that must be a factor.”
—George Russell
Challenges Ahead for Mercedes in the Sprint Points Battle
Only the top eight finishers earn points in the sprint race, leaving Russell needing to overtake at least five drivers to secure points. Although he acknowledged the difficulties faced in qualifying, Russell remained cautiously optimistic about making progress during the sprint but refrained from setting overly ambitious expectations for his final position.
This difficult qualifying session highlights ongoing challenges for Mercedes as they attempt to regain competitiveness in the 2024 season, with the Belgian GP sprint underlining the need for improvements in car performance and race strategy moving forward.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is number 13 banned in F1?
A. Yes, the number 13 is permitted. Pastor Maldonado actually chose #13 when the permanent numbering system started in 2014. While some cultures see 13 as unlucky, F1 lets drivers decide their numbers.
Q. Which F1 driver has ADHD?
A. Lewis Hamilton’s experiences with ADHD and dyslexia have greatly impacted his personal and professional life. His journey shows new ways to succeed in Formula 1 and highlights the importance of recognizing learning differences.
Q. Is the number 13 banned in F1?
A. F1 Driver Number Guidelines
Selecting a number: Each F1 driver can pick a unique number from 2 to 99, but not 17, to use for their entire racing career.