George Russell demands major change after 'sore head' pain

George Russell has demanded changes to the Madring circuit layout after a "not pleasant" experience in the Spanish Grand Prix left him with a "sore head."

The new 22-turn circuit in the Spanish capital was limited in its overtaking opportunities, with the only realistic place to make a move being at Turns 5 and 6 at the end of the longest straight on the circuit. 

However, the curved arrival into the braking zone leads into a fast left-right-left chicane which does not create overtaking opportunities for drivers with no big stop as cars clatter over the kerbs. 

Following a fifth place finish which saw his points deficit to race-winner Kimi Antonelli balloon to 81 points, Russell was keen for changes to be made for the 2027 event. 

"They need to do something, they need to make a change," Russell told media, including RacingNews365 of the track layout. 

"Because every circuit needs to have an overtaking opportunity after a bit of a straight, and this one has a tight chicane and the corners that are a real challenge, but it is not pleasant. 

"After 60 laps smashing those kerbs, my head was a bit sore at the end."

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Russell reflects on "far better" Spanish GP

As for his race, Russell laboured to a fifth-place finish, having started on the hard tyres and running long, losing a further 15 points to team-mate Antonelli. 

"The hard tyre was by far the superior tyre, and it would have been a big gamble to stay out on the medium, and I thought I had nothing to lose in the end," he said.

"I think I would have ended up where I ended up anyway, so it is a bit of a shame; it is a very tough track to overtake, which I guess was a bit annoying for everyone. 

"The performance was far better than the result, and I think the pace was really strong, among the strongest of everybody out there, so I take those positives, but this was Monaco-esque in terms of qualifying [being important]."