Russell: That’s about what we expected.

The Mercedes drivers start Saturday’s sprint at the Brazilian circuit in the top five, with both saying 4th and 5th positions are about the expected results.

George Russell (4th): “I would like to think that we have been able to improve ourselves compared to yesterday, but the truth is that the changed circumstances have also played a very important role.

Sometimes this works in our favor, sometimes on the contrary, it does not contribute to the optimal behavior of the car, but in the last qualifying everything worked as it should. The lap went well, there were no mistakes. I start fourth in the sprint – I think that’s exactly what we expected to show about the same result in this qualifying.

Too bad Lewis and I were only in 5th and 6th place yesterday, and I also got a fine. I am therefore looking forward to the upcoming race with great interest.

I trust our car, I expect the pace in the sprint distance to be better than the speed in qualifying. Overall, I have no doubt that Max Verstappen will be the fastest again. But the Ferraris are starting behind us, which is not bad news, and I think my main job is to try to stay ahead of Lando Norris.”

Lewis Hamilton (5th): “Our car has been able to maintain around this pace for a long time, so on average fifth position is our normal result. Of course I always try to go higher, but my last lap wasn’t the best. I think I can possibly move up a few more positions.

Achieving optimal tire heating is always difficult, but I think we managed it, but in the last corner the rear of the car became a bit destabilized and I lost about a tenth there.

I am happy that the Brazilian public accepts me very well, and every time I work on the track I receive this energy, and every year this support is felt more and more. I will try to make full use of this extra energy in today’s sprint.”