Mercedes called George Russell off a pole lap at Interlagos, and it cost them. With rain intensifying in Q3, the team told him to abort his second run, banking on one more attempt before conditions worsened. The rain arrived first. Russell's abandoned effort would have beaten Lando Norris' pole time even after getting held up by Alex Albon. "Pole was ours for the taking," he said, barely masking his frustration. "This season's just not meant to be."
The timing hurts — Russell lost the championship to teammate Kimi Antonelli last week and will start seventh Sunday after a five-place penalty. Antonelli moves up to the front row despite finishing 0.625s back and admitting to two big mistakes in his first wet Interlagos running.
Mercedes needs three points to clinch the Constructors' over Ferrari. P2 and P7 on the grid in mixed conditions should get them there, but Russell's personal redemption will have to wait.
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