P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Qatar GP concerns: Russell close to ‘giving up’
George Russell expressed concerns about the extreme hot conditions during the Qatar Grand Prix, stating that it was “borderline too much” as he nearly fainted 12 laps into the race. Despite starting from second on the grid, he collided with teammate Lewis Hamilton at the first corner. However, Russell managed to fight his way back up through the field and eventually secured fourth place after overtaking Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc. The high air temperature of 33°c, combined with the humidity inside the cockpits, caused discomfort for the drivers. Additionally, the mandated short stint lengths, designed specifically for this race, added to the fatigue as they were effectively driving qualifying laps throughout the entirety of the 57-lap race. Russell emphasized that driving under these conditions was beyond what is acceptable, as more than 50% of the grid reportedly felt sick and close to passing out. He further mentioned that if the temperatures were any hotter, he would have retired from the race due to the physical strain on his body.
Source: RacingNews 365
