APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Russell faced water on tyres due to 'comical' issue during qualifying
George Russell encountered an unusual challenge during qualifying when it emerged that his tyres were affected by an unintended layer of water.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-07-25T19:23:39.000Z - 2 min read
The qualifying session is often the moment when drivers push their machinery to the absolute limit, with every tenth of a second counting. For George Russell, however, this session turned out differently than expected. He had to battle for grid position while dealing with a peculiar obstacle: water on his tyres.
This curious situation arose due to what was described by some as a "comical" issue. How exactly the water ended up on the slicks and why it remained there is a question that has undoubtedly been investigated internally. Typically, tyres are carefully kept dry, especially when running on a dry track.
Driving with even a thin layer of water on the contact patches of the tyres can significantly reduce grip. This is all the more true for Formula 1 tyres, which are designed to deliver maximum mechanical grip on dry asphalt. Any disruption to that contact surface has immediate consequences for performance.
During a qualifying lap, where drivers operate with millimeter precision on the limit, consistent grip is crucial. Unexpected slipperiness caused by water on the tyres makes it extremely difficult to maintain confidence in the car and hit apexes perfectly. This requires extra caution and adjustments to driving style.
The term "comical" suggests the problem was bizarre or absurd rather than indicative of a deeper, serious mechanical fault. It was an unexpected and perhaps slightly humorous glitch in an otherwise well-oiled operation, though the consequences for performance were certainly no laughing matter.
It is plausible that this unwanted "aquaplaning" impacted Russell's potentially faster lap times. Any imbalance or uncertainty in grip can cost fractions of a second on the clock, which in highly competitive Formula 1 can quickly lead to a lower starting position than hoped for.
For the team, ensuring such an incident does not recur will be paramount. Even the most experienced drivers require the best possible conditions to excel. A "comical" issue can otherwise quickly turn into an unwanted hindrance in the battle for points.