George Russell Crashes Into the Wall with Just 2 Minutes Left in FP2
In a dramatic end to Friday’s second free practice session (FP2), Mercedes driver George Russell brought the session to a sudden halt after crashing into the barriers with just two minutes remaining on the clock. The British driver, pushing hard to find the limits on a tricky circuit, lost control and slammed into the wall, leaving his car heavily damaged.
The incident occurred as Russell was attempting a flying lap, looking to close the gap between Mercedes and their rivals after a challenging start to the weekend. The session had already seen some tense moments as drivers struggled with track conditions, but Russell’s crash was the most significant, forcing the session to be red-flagged and ultimately not resumed.
The Mercedes crew will now face a race against time to repair the car ahead of tomorrow’s crucial qualifying session. Russell, who walked away from the crash unscathed, appeared visibly frustrated but composed as he headed back to the paddock.
Speaking to the media shortly after the incident, Russell expressed his disappointment. “It was obviously a big hit,” he said. “I was on a fast lap and just pushed a little too hard. We’ve got a lot of work to do now, but the car was feeling good, so we’ll regroup and come back stronger.”
The crash is a setback for Mercedes, who have been striving to find consistent pace throughout the season. While teammate Lewis Hamilton was able to complete his session without incident, Russell’s early end to FP2 leaves the team with valuable data to analyze but also with a car to rebuild.
With just hours before qualifying, the pressure is on the Mercedes mechanics to get Russell’s car ready and ensure he can be competitive on Saturday. As the weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on how Russell and his team recover from this late-session mishap.
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