Russell seeks Mercedes review after aborted qualifying lap

George Russell said Mercedes’ decision to tell him to back off during his final qualifying attempt at Interlagos cost him the chance to complete a lap before rain intensified, and called for the team to review the miscommunication. Russell qualified second for the Brazilian Grand Prix, but a five-place grid penalty means he is due to start seventh. Kimi Antonelli will start alongside pole-sitter Lando Norris on the front row.

Russell was on a fast lap in the closing stages of a rain-affected qualifying session when he caught Alex Albon’s Williams. His race engineer instructed him to slow down and create space. Mercedes expected another opportunity to set a time, Russell said, but heavier rain arrived before he could make another attempt.

“I think it was just a bit of miscommunication,” Russell said after qualifying. He said the team believed there would be time for another lap and that he had been asked to back off because he had caught Albon. He described the outcome as disappointing and said he wanted to understand how the decision was made.

Russell said he relied on the team’s weather information and did not blame his race engineer, who relayed instructions from the pit wall....