Palmer acknowledges Russell mistake: "It happens"
F1 News
- GPblog.com
George Russell was in a promising position at Imola until he made an expensive mistake and crashed into the wall while the field was driving behind the safety car. Jolyon Palmer has given a slight defence of the Williams man, but acknowledged it is another week without points.
"That was a pretty big mistake by George [Russell] and he knows it," he said in the BBC's Checkered Flag podcast. "Behind the Safety Car it is difficult to keep the tyres warm and many drivers have spun or crashed in the past. It happens. Formula 1 cars are very difficult to drive at very low speeds, especially if you're driving on a used hard tyre."
"But the thing is for Russell, he has a lot of potential, he drives one of the weakest cars on the grid, especially in the race trim. He drove great, but it's another race in which he doesn't score points."
Russell still searching for first point
The longer it takes for Russell to finally reach a point, the greater the burden on his shoulders, especially if he misses it because of his own mistakes. The race in Imola was not the first time this happened. Palmer cites the German Grand Prix and this season Mugello as examples where Russell also had it in his own hands.
"I think if it happens again people will start talking," he added.