Russell: Williams could break 107% rule in qualifying

Williams rookie George Russell believes the team could fall foul of the 107% rule in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. The team has been cut adrift at the back of the F1 field compared to their rivals.

Having missed the first two days of testing, Williams was already heading into the season-opening race in Melbourne on the back foot.

The departure of Paddy Lowe on a leave of absence ahead of the first race only served to show that all was not well within the team and Russell has a bleak outlook on the remainder of the weekend.

After the British driver and teammate, Robert Kubica finished 19th and 20th in both practice sessions on Friday, Russell admitted the team could fall below the 107% rule in qualifying.

"Obviously we didn’t have the best of days. The lap time is stating the fact that we’re quite a long way off the rest at the moment," he said.

"But we knew what we were in for. We know what this weekend is going to be about, and we just need to build on that.

"We knew what we were in for at this race and probably the first couple of races, and we just need to focus on building on that, and ensure come mid-season and the end of the year that we have something better.

"I’ve been driving the car, I’ve not been seeing what the lap times are, or who’s at the top and the lap time. I didn’t have my calculator with me, so I don’t know. I doubt it."