George Russell explains Mercedes qualifying shock as penalty threat looms

George Russell has revealed the cause behind his sensational qualifying lap at the Bahrain International Circuit to clinch second on the grid for the grand prix in Sakhir.

Heading into the final part of the grid-setting session, it looked as if the best on offer was third. The British driver did not appear to be within touching distance of the leading McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

Whilst a scruffy lap for the latter opened the door for second on the grid, Russell was surprisingly close to Piastri, who took pole.

The Mercedes driver was within two-tenths of a second of the Australian, who is starting his 50th grand prix in Bahrain.

"Yeah, 100%," Russell agreed when asked if he would have taken a slot on the front row before the session under the Sakhir lights.

"I think if anybody said we'd be within half a second of the McLarens, we'd have taken it, because we would have thought that would have been sort of P3 on the grid, so to be second on the grid is a bonus.

"Congrats to Oscar, great lap, and excited for tomorrow now."

Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli are both under investigation for leaving their pit garages too early ahead of the session resumption in Q2 and after the Esteban Ocon-induced red flag. It is not yet clear whether they will be handed grid penalties for the grand prix.

Aside from that, Russell explained where the surprise pace came from for his W16, after being half a second shy of the McLarens in the third and final practice session.

"I gotta be honest, I think the strides were being made with the night time coming in and the track temperature getting a little bit cooler.

"We saw it this morning in practice three, when it was roasting hot, the McLarens were down the road.

"And now, as this session unfolded, we just seemed to get quicker and quicker. So yeah, lining up P2 is a great, great chance tomorrow, but I think being realistic, it will be a challenge to fight with Oscar."