Russell explains 'frustrating' Pirelli tyres

George Russell says an inability to properly understand Pirelli’s Formula 1 tyres is "frustrating for everyone".

Russell could only qualify 11th for the Grand Prix and 15th for the Sprint in Austria, and said he had had difficulty getting his tyres into their optimum operating window.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after having finished eighth in the Sprint, Russell elaborated on the struggles that Mercedes and other teams have had in understanding the Pirelli tyres, which teams do not have access to at their respective factories.

"The tyres are the only thing on the car that we don't make ourselves," said Russell.

"You're given a product and you can't even take that product back home with you to analyse or do your own testing with. Here's what you've got, and deal with it.

"If we could take that tyre home and chop it up, the brilliant engineers would then probably be able to understand it more, but obviously Pirelli believe that's their secret recipe and want to keep hold of it.

"It makes it interesting, but it's equally very frustrating for everyone."