Russell provides revelation over Leclerc overtake

George Russell has revealed that he rehearsed his Turn 4 overtake on Charles Leclerc in Bahrain before the race began.

Russell moved ahead of Leclerc on the third lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix, taking second place in a move around the outside of the Ferrari driver.

It marked a strong start for the Mercedes driver who started from fourth place on the grid.

Russell eventually dropped to fifth place at the chequered flag after being overtaken by Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz before Leclerc moved back ahead late on.

Russell divulged that on his laps to the grid, he played with the outside line in anticipation of an overtake attempt arising.

“It was fun,” Russell said of the overtake speaking to media including RacingNews365.

“When he went to the inside, I was like 'that's exactly where I wanted him to go' and I got the move done.

“I was a little bit off guard, the wind changed. We had to headwind into Turn 4 so I knew I could brake really deep into Turn 4. I practised it on my lap to the grid.

“[I was] just practising different lines and seeing how much grip there is on the outside of corners, trying to utilise the conditions and take advantage of that.

“There was a big change with the conditions, so it was fun while it lasted.”