Heartbreak: George Russell reacts to dramatic Sakhir GP

George Russell seemed likely to win his first-ever Formula 1 victory in his first serious chance. This weekend he was a Mercedes driver, replacing Lewis Hamilton who had tested positive for COVID-19. The race was taken from Russel twice, as he says himself. 

"Guys... I don't know what to say. It was taken away from us twice," says a disappointed Russell on the team radio. 

Russell is equally proud

"I was managing the race at the start. I felt comfortable in the opening laps just managing the gap to Valtteri. Then we had muddle in the pitstop that put us on the backfoot and I had to overtake him and obviously," the Mercedes driver continues in an interview on Sky Sports. 

"I think we could have still caught Sergio because the car was so quick. Guttered but incredibly proud of what we achieved. That's racing. It's a team sport and we are in it together. We learn from these things and it was an incredibly late call to pit. It was seconds that the safety car came out and we got the tyres muddled up. Silver lining I got my first points in Formula 1," Russell said. 

Gutted. Absolutely gutted.

It just wasn't meant to be tonight but I’m proud of the job we did out there. We'll get our opportunity again.

Congrats to @SChecoPerez. Nobody deserves a win more than him.

— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) December 6, 2020