'Didn't feel the same' – Russell trying to understand lack of pace in Singapore GP Qualifying

George Russell believes that his Mercedes in Qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix "didn't feel the same" following his crash in Saturday's earlier Sprint.

Russell had taken the lead from polesitter Max Verstappen at the start of Sprint around the streets of Marina Bay, which was delayed due to a downpour just before lights out.

But the Briton touched the kerb exiting the final corner at the end of the first lap, spinning and hitting the pit wall, with Mercedes then in a race against time to repair the damaged car for Grand Prix Qualifying.

Russell was able to participate in a dry Qualifying session, but lacked the pace he had shown on Friday and was only able to post the sixth fastest time, though he would be starting from the back of the grid anyway due to an engine-related penalty.

"It was mainly just making sure the car was feeling as it did yesterday after the crash this morning," said Russell.

"But it didn't quite feel the same in all honesty. I had great pace yesterday, we were in the top three on almost every lap that I completed and, today, I wasn't even in the top five at any point throughout the session. I need to try and understand why that was."

With Russell consigned to a back of the grid start for Sunday's Grand Prix, the Briton was pessimistic about his chances on challenging towards the front given the nature of the track – with the circumstances very different compared to team mate Kimi Antonelli's charge to victory from P19 in the Italian GP after making similar engine changes.

"It's going to be challenging for sure," he admitted. "I think when you look at Kimi, starting P19 in Monza and won, then in Baku he was in P16 and got up to P10 with about 15 laps remaining.

"Same driver, similar track and two very different circumstances. I hope I can get into the points, P7, P6 depending on if Hadjar has a penalty or not, would be an interesting race."