George Russell has allayed fears over his pace deficit to Lewis Hamilton in the Mexico City Grand Prix after his Mercedes team-mate comprehensively out-performed him once again.
Russell only qualified eighth at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with Hamilton sixth, with the seven-time champion climbing to second by the end of the race.
His younger team-mate got stuck behind the McLaren of Oscar Piastri in the first stint before coming under pressure from Daniel Ricciardo late on as he faded badly.
Sixth-place meant Russell has only finished ahead of Hamilton once when both cars have finished since the summer break - in Italy - with the second-year Mercedes driver revealing how his challenge was stymied in the closing stages as he finished 28 seconds behind Hamilton.
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Last 15 laps 'like driving on ice'
"It was it was like driving on ice for the last 15 laps, which was a pretty miserable feeling and I was very lucky to finish P6," Russell told media, including RacingNews365.
"We were strong here last year, we qualified on the front row and probably should have had a podium last year.
"We've definitely performed well, but this weekend has been about tyres as it has been for everyone.
"Qualifying was a total surprise for many teams, for good or bad, but I'm hopeful Brazil won't be that sensitive [on tyres]."
"I'm not too worried because of the reason behind [the deficit to Hamilton].
"It's been two race weekends in a row, two different reasons; Last time [in the United States] it was the fuel [saving] which lost the tyres, this weekend it was the brakes.
"We need some clarity."
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