Russell had ‘toughest race of the season’ after error left him without drink

Russell made a great start from 16th on the grid, moving up to ninth on the opening lap.

Unfortunately for Russell, Williams didn’t have the pace to stay inside the top 10, quickly dropping down the order to eventually finish 16th. 

Russell described his race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as his ‘toughest afternoon of the season’.

“To be honest it was the toughest afternoon we’ve had all season,” Russell said. 

“It was really, really difficult. I thought we were on for a good result at the start, we got up to P9 from P16 on Lap 1, which I thought was relatively strong and then we were just nowhere, absolutely nowhere. One of those days. 

Russell explained that he pulled his drinks tube out when he was trying to check if he had front wing damage under the Safety Car.

“I thought I damaged my front wing so when I thought it was safe to do so I slightly loosened by belts and just peered over the top [of the cockpit] and in doing so yanked the drinks tube out,” he added. 

“So I lost the drinks tube under the safety car. It was under the safety car I did that.”

Despite a non-score in Mexico, Williams remains comfortably in eighth in the F1 constructors’ championship, 12 points ahead of Alfa Romeo with four rounds to go.