Soiled air has turn out to be a speaking level this season within the context of how intently drivers can comply with different vehicles.
Nonetheless, Russell notes that it has additionally impacted his consolation within the cockpit, having highlighted the difficulty on group radio in the middle of final weekend’s Japanese GP.
“It has been a little bit of a theme this yr,” he mentioned when requested by Motorsport.com concerning the problem.
“However I’ve had no downside with helmets in follow and qualifying, after which as quickly as we get to the race with all of the turbulence and vehicles round there’s plenty of buffeting and struggling a bit on this regard.
“The vehicles are positively tougher to comply with lately than they’ve been prior to now.”
In what was an eventful afternoon for the Mercedes driver Russell additionally referenced a steering vibration in the course of the Suzuka race.
“Yeah, I am not too certain the place that got here from,” he famous. “There could also be a small flat spot, I simply have to assess it.”
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos
Russell overcame his points to complete the race in seventh place, having chased down and handed McLaren‘s Oscar Piastri within the closing laps.
The Briton was investigated by the FIA stewards after the pair made contact within the chicane, however he escaped with no additional motion taken.
“It was a superb race, a superb battle,” he mentioned. “Clearly, I had just a little little bit of a late lunge on him.
“Felt like I gave him sufficient room, however made a little bit of contact on the apex. I used to be a bit shocked to see him go straight on, however on the finish, I managed to cross him away.”
Russell felt that seventh was the very best consequence after beginning the Suzuka race from ninth and getting forward of Piastri and his personal team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
“It was so tight between the 4 groups after Pink Bull, and also you’re seeing solely a tenth and a half or two-tenths splitting in all probability six vehicles in qualifying and finally it feels such as you end the place you begin. So we had a foul day yesterday and paid the worth immediately.
“I believe it made sense to start out on the exhausting [after the red flag], it simply gave us this flexibility. However I misplaced a great deal of time behind Lewis initially.
“As soon as we pitted the tempo was fairly sturdy I believe, in keeping with Charles [Leclerc] and Lando [Norris]. So had we began a number of positions larger it could have been a distinct race.”
Watch: F1 2024 Japanese Grand Prix Assessment – Regular Service Resumed
