‘If it were Singapore, I probably wouldn’t have raced’ — Russell on F1’s toughest test
Fresh from a podium in Baku after climbing from fifth on the grid, George Russell revealed he battled illness throughout the weekend — and that the same condition would likely have ruled him out had the event been the Singapore Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver skipped Thursday media duties and said Friday was ‘touch-and-go’ before he pushed through to finish second.
Why Singapore is different
Singapore’s Marina Bay circuit is widely considered the most physically and mentally demanding race on the calendar: a near two-hour night marathon in extreme heat and humidity on a narrow, unforgiving street layout. Drivers can shed around 5kg over the grand prix distance, and cockpit temperatures can become punishing. Last year, both Russell and then-team-mate Lewis Hamilton were too overheated to fulfil post-race media duties.
The takeaway
Russell says he’s recovering and ‘on the up’, but his comments are a reminder that elite conditioning has limits in the face of Singapore’s unique strain. For teams and drivers, preparation there isn’t just about setup and strategy — it’s also a battle of physiology and resilience.
