RaceFans Round-up: Fourth a “really good recovery”

In brief

Fourth a “really good recovery” – Russell

After securing fourth on the grid right behind Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton for the Singapore Grand Prix, George Russell says he is relieved not to be starting further down the grid after suffering confusing grip loss in the early phases of qualifying.

“It was so strange,” he told the official F1 channel. “In FP3 I felt super confident, car was feeling great. Tyres were feeling great. Everything came easily. I thought we were on course for a front row here, had a good amount of margin to the rest of the field.

“Then I went out in Q1 and was almost knocked out. Went out in Q2 and was almost knocked out. Lost all confidence, had no grip. Then in Q3, managed to do a reasonable lap. Ultimately a really good recovery, because we were on course for not being anywhere near the front and now here we are starting on the second row.

“Would have loved to be second, but qualified second here last year and ended up in the wall. So not too fussed about P4.”

Colapinto “frustrated” with 12th

Despite running without the car upgrades given to his team mate Alexander Albon this weekend, Williams rookie Franco Colapinto says he is not happy to have been eliminated from Q2 in 12th, right behind Albon.

“Of course it’s a bit frustrating after finishing only three-hundredths off of Q3, in a track that I’ve never been to before,” he said.

“It’s a bit frustrating because, I can easily go back in my lap and find some lap time and that’s why I’m not happy. But I think we did a good weekend so far. I didn’t have the upgrades that Alex [Albon] has in the car and I still showed that I can be up there and we could be fighting for points, even at a track that maybe doesn’t suit us so well. So there are many positives, of course, but I am frustrated with the result because when you are so, so close, it is disappointing.”

Magnussen ‘limited by old front wing’

After failing to follow Haas team mate Nico Hulkenberg into Q3, Kevin Magnussen pointed to a difference in car specification between his and his team mate’s cars to explain the deficit

“Other people picked up more pace than I did,” he said. “I’d probably reached my maximum with the car.

“There’s a few things that are on our car, like…