Russell crash: Frantic team radio message details helpless anxiety

Unbroadcast team radio from the Australian Grand Prix has revealed George Russell's panic at being stranded on the racing line following his late-race crash.

The Mercedes driver had been chasing Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin for sixth place in the dying embers of the 58-lap event and had closed to within a second heading onto the penultimate lap.

But entering turn six, Russell ran off track and into the barrier, spinning as a result with his W15 tripping over its damaged wheels, coming to rest on its side, and with the floor facing the direction of oncoming traffic.

Frantic shouting

In a team radio message that was not broadcast at the time of the incident, the anxiety Russell felt while stranded in a precarious position was portrayed.

The Briton, who is also a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, shouted: "Red flag! Red flag! Red flag! I am in the middle of the track.

"Red flag! Red flag! Red! Red! Red! Red! Red! I am in the middle! Red! Fucking hell!"

Despite his pleas, FIA race control elected to run the final lap of the race under the Virtual Safety Car while the medical car was deployed to retrieve Russell from the scene of the accident.