‘That screwed us’: George Russell’s nightmare as race goes up in smoke

George Russell made an emergency exit from his Mercedes as his day from hell turned into a fiery disaster at the Australian Grand Prix.

Dumpster fire. Photo by Simon Baker / POOL / AFP.

The only positive for George Russell is that he can say he took it like a man.

The English driver was left “screwed” on lap seven when his race lead disappeared in the madness that followed Alexander Albon’s crash at the Australian GP in Melbourne.

It went from nightmare to disaster when the race re-started before a power unit failure saw his car catch fire.

It was the final slap in the face on a day when it all to pieces.

Russell was jostling for sixth position when a power unit issue saw the back of his car engulfed in flames and was forced to pull off to the side of the track, triggering a virtual safety car.

He was able to climb out of his car as marshalls arrived to put the fire out that had spread across the back of his car.

It was simply not his day.

He took to Twitter just a few minutes later to post: “When it’s not your day, it’s not your day”.

George Russell's race #F1#AustralianGP#AusGP@pitlane_girlpic.twitter.com/KKIphocMQq

— Jeff Pappone 🇨🇦 (@jpappone) April 2, 2023

very George Russell to calmly report a PU problem when his car's spewing flames out the arse like it's just done Hot Ones #AusGP

— Hazel Southwell (@HSouthwellFE) April 2, 2023

Earlier, the race was red flagged for more than 20 minutes after Albon skidded into the wall sending debris all over the track.

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Russell and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton pulled off minor miracles in getting past Max Verstappen in the opening two laps, but Russell’s good work was all undone when his team made the call to bring him into the pits while the safety car was deployed.

While he came in for a fresh set of hard tyres, Hamilton and Verstappen stayed out and were at the front when the race re-started.

Russell was back in seventh by the time the race finally got back underway.

Hamilton was initially filthy about his team making the decision to pit Russell and leave him out.

“That has put me at a massive disadvantage,” he said on team radio.

He was changing his tune seconds later when the race was red-flagged.

It was left to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to admit to Russell that the team had made the wrong call.

Mercedes' British driver George Russell has the lonely walk back. Photo by Simon Baker / POOL / AFP.

Alex Albon spins out during the Australian Grand Prix. Picture: Fox Sports

George Russell's Mercedes was on fire. Photo: Kayo.

“Sorry George, that screwed us but we can still go to the front of the podium,” he said on team Radio.

Russell forgave team officials and said the situation was not their fault.

In the end, Mercedes’ squabbling counted for nothing as Verstappen snatched the race lead from Hamilton on lap 12.

The team had enjoyed a mostly-successful campaign in Melbourne with Russell and Hamilton qualifying second and third.

However, the team has continued to lament how far behind its car is to the Red Bull.

After getting past Hamilton in the first opportunity that DRS was available, Verstappen was gone.