Mercedes reveal George Russell 'bubble' fear in Carlos Sainz battle

Mercedes technical director James Allison has revealed that the team feared George Russell would emerge from the Baku pit lane behind Carlos Sainz, having judged the gap as "on the bubble". 

Despite battling illness, Russell put on an excellent display in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to seal second place, making three positions from where he started. 

The Mercedes driver performed a long opening stint in an attempt to overcut both team-mate Kimi Antonelli and Sainz, who had been in second and third for much of the race. 

As Russell entered the pit lane in the closing stages, the Silver Arrows expected him to rejoin the circuit behind Sainz. 

However, a strong in-lap and a well-performed pit stop by the Brackley-based outfit saw the Briton emerge back onto the circuit still in second, and comfortably ahead of Sainz. 

Allison revealed the team's concerns ahead of the pit stop that Sainz would move back ahead of Russell, but that everything came together to retain the position.

"That was an exciting time in that race," said Allison. "We were watching lap after lap with George right on the bubble of being able to make that overcut work. 

"We actually thought that he was a little bit behind, and that he was going to come out right on the tail of Sainz and have to get by on the track. So it was a fantastic thing to see him emerge in front, and by a second or so. 

"And it was one of those pit stops where everything came together. It wasn't just that the guys on the guns and the wheel handling, that all that went as per choreographed and really slick. That did happen, but it was more than that. 

"If you'd watch George's in lap, he absolutely smoked the in lap and really took a lot of time away, much more than we expected, in the way he got round the second half of that in lap. 

"And it was just brilliant seeing it when it all comes together like that, and the overcut happens. It's a great feeling."