Russell says chaotic Sepang Grand Prix was “not very F1”

George Russell has criticised the disruption at the Sepang Grand Prix, saying the race day “didn’t feel very F1” after delays, formation-lap problems and a late retirement denied him a chance to fight for a podium.

The race was already behind schedule after heavy rainfall delayed the start. The formation lap began around an hour and 20 minutes later than planned, but the wet conditions brought further complications: multiple cars suffered major software issues, prompting additional delays.

Russell questions the day’s sequence

Speaking after the race, Russell described the event as “a bit of a faff”, pointing to the delay, a red flag, extended running behind the safety car and extra laps to allow Sergio Perez to overtake.

“It just didn’t feel very F1 today. And I’d have been a bit disappointed if I was in the stands watching that unfold,” he said. “So that wasn’t good. But from my side, just a bit frustrating.”

His criticism extended beyond the schedule. Russell argued that the complexity of the power units leaves more opportunities for problems to emerge, and said that was something to consider in the future.

The FIA’s single-seater director, Nikolas Tombazis, said a “concertina effect” developed between cars during the formation lap, with some almost coming to a complete stop. He explained that a software bug then prevented power from being redeployed, leaving cars unable to get going again.

“If we had had a bit more testing, we probably would have managed to catch it in time, and not to have such a situation,” Tombazis said.

For Russell, the failure that ended his afternoon came after a race day already defined by interruptions. His remarks underline the frustration of losing a potential podium in a race where the running itself had been repeatedly compromised.