George Russell said the final stint of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was an exciting challenge because the tyres performed so well.
Formula 1’s high-degradation tyres ordinarily do not allow drivers to push flat-out continuously. However Pirelli’s selection for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix proved unusually durable.Russell spent the final laps of the race being pursued by Max Verstappen. Both drivers were running the soft tyre but found they didn’t have to manage it as much as usual and could drive closer to the limit.
“Max and I spoke about this,” said Russell, “the final stint, I think, is the most fun I’ve had in a race for as long as I can remember because the tyre felt great.
“We were pushing flat-out every single lap. It was like qualifying, one after another. You needed to be so alert around this circuit because the walls are so close, especially through the castle. You’re threading the needle.”
Verstappen was seldom more than a second behind Russell following the final Safety Car restart but never got close enough to attempt a pass.
“Those final 10 laps felt really, really fun. It almost felt like the stories I hear of the drivers in the early-mid-2000s, when every lap was like a qualifying lap. The heart rate is higher, you’re pushing the limit every single lap, there’s no management.”
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While F1 has faced criticism this year as its power unit regulations force drivers to conserve energy, Russell pointed out that tyre management often continues to prevent them from pushing flat-out.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations this year about [power unit] energy management, but the tyre management is still there and it has been there for years and years,” he said. “But just with how the temperatures and the circuit fell out today, with the tyres there was no management, and that was exceptionally fun.”
Verstappen also enjoyed the final laps of the race.
“The last stint was fun,” he said. “I kissed a few walls as well, just to leave my mark here in Baku.
“It’s always very challenging around here, qualifying and in the race now at the end as well, just pushing flat-out. It comes with risk, being close to certain walls on the inside, the outside. But it’s cool.”
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