Mercedes Addresses George Russell’s Last Lap Radio Message and Puncture Concern

Mercedes address George Russell’s radio message and tire threat in the final lap.

At the Saudi Grand Prix, Mercedes driver George Russell caused major drama in the final race when he said on the radio that he suspected his car had a flat tire. However, the team immediately investigated the matter and found that it was a false alarm.

Russell, who finished sixth, reported a possible “right front tyre” as he crossed the finish line at Jeddah. This threat quickly prompted the Mercedes team to analyze the car’s data to confirm the situation.

Mercedes team engineering director Andrew Shovlin said the team’s data showed no signs of problems with Russell’s tyres. To the pilot’s dismay, data analysis showed the tire to be in good condition with no air flow.

“As you heard, he said on the radio that there was a right front tire, that was what he was concerned about,” Shovlin said. “But we were able to look at our data and see that the tire is as good as it can be.”

The team reassured Russell and advised him to relax, informing him of the distance of the car behind him and that there was no need to push the speed. The team’s analysis showed that the vibration Russell felt was nothing to worry about and that all the car’s systems were working properly.

While the Mercedes team is ready to face the situation, Russell’s tire case remains open until Formula 1 tire maker Pirelli conducts its own investigation. The team will not be able to access the tire in question as it is owned by Pirelli, who will carry out analysis to see if any damage has been done.

“Now the tyre, we cannot confirm because it is Pirelli. So they took it back for analysis. But like I said, everything we’re seeing looks good,” Shovlin explained.

Thanks to the peace of mind provided by the Mercedes team and the reassurance that there are no serious problems with Russell’s car, the driver can finish the race without worry. We now have to wait for Pirelli’s test results to fully explain the incident and ensure the tire’s reliability at the next championship level.