# George Russell: Team error cost pole in Sao Paulo GP

> Mercedes driver George Russell says team misjudgement cost him pole position in chaotic wet qualifying.
- Title: George Russell: Team error cost pole in Sao Paulo GP
- Summary: Mercedes driver George Russell says team misjudgement cost him pole position in chaotic wet qualifying.
- Keywords: george russell, mercedes, sao paulo grand prix, wet qualifying, pole position, lando norris, alex albon, toto wolff, mercedes team, Sky Sports
- Source: Sky Sports — https://skysports.com/f1/news/12040/13609204/george-russell-very-disappointed-mercedes-driver-says-team-error-cost-him-sao-paulo-gp-pole-in-chaotic-wet-qualifying
- Published: 2026-11-07T22:20:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: george russell, mercedes, sao paulo grand prix, f1, wet qualifying, pole position, lando norris, alex albon, toto wolff, mercedes team, sports
## George Russell disappointed
George Russell said he was 'really disappointed' as he insisted a 'misjudgement' by his Mercedes team cost him pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

> George Russell said he was "really disappointed" as he insisted a "misjudgement" by his Mercedes team cost him pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
## Wet qualifying session
Russell drove impressively throughout a hugely-challenging wet qualifying session at Interlagos but missed pole by two tenths to McLaren's Lando Norris.
## Team instruction to abort
Mercedes told Russell to abort his second run when held up by Williams driver Alex Albon during wet qualifying.
## Rain intensified
Rain intensified moments after Russell was told to abort, preventing faster lap times for the remaining seven minutes of qualifying.
## Russell's frustration
Russell reacted with fury over team radio, questioning the instruction to abort and insisting he would have beaten Norris' time.
## Russell's explanation
Russell said he felt strong but was asked to back off because he caught up Albon, then rain came, making pole position unattainable.
## Wolff's perspective
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Russell wouldn't have beaten Norris on the aborted lap due to time lost behind Albon.
## Russell's team blame
Russell insisted his race engineer Marcus Dudley and colleagues weren't responsible for the decision, as it was led by information they were seeing.
## Pundits split on pole
Sky Sports pundits Karun Chandhok and Bernie Collins were split on whether Russell would have claimed pole had he completed the lap behind Albon.
## Key takeaway

George Russell says Mercedes team error in wet qualifying cost him pole position at Sao Paulo Grand Prix.