Russell: Dash to help Zhou 'just a natural reaction'

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George Russell says his swift exit from his stricken car to check on Zhou Guanyu after the Alfa Romeo driver's terrifying crash at Silverstone was "just a natural reaction".

Russell was pitched into the side of Zhou's Alfa at the start of the race, a contact that overturned the latter and sent it sliding upside down at full speed towards the gravel trap at the first corner.

The Alfa then somersaulted again and jumped the tyre wall to come to rest against the catch-fencing, at the feet of a grandstand full of spectators.

Russell initially believed his Mercedes was hopelessly damaged, and after stopping his car on the edge of the track, he dashed towards the tyre barrier to help Zhou, only to find the Alfa wedged on its side between the tyre barrier and the fence, its driver locked in and desperately out of reach.

It was a terrifying sight for the powerless Russell.

Read also: Mercedes 'proud' of Russell's display of character at Silverstone

"It was just a natural reaction for me to do," said Russell, speaking in Austria on Thursday.

"That the race was red-flagged and seeing such a horrific incident.

"For me it was horrifying to see him trapped in there, literally not being able to get out of the car. He was obviously fine and I could see he was moving.

"You are in there pretty tight and when you have a tyre wall on top of you and your head blocking your exit upside down, it’s a horrible position to be in.

“I think from every disaster there’s improvements that can be made… Hopefully the gap between the catch fencing and the barrier can be resolved. It wasn’t nice for sure."

Russell returned to his car to assess its damage before trying to start it up again and return to the pits where it could have been repaired in time for the race's second start.

The silver arrow was eventually transported back to the Mercedes pit bow on a flatbed truck, but its recovery by track crews automatically meant that Russell would not be permitted to take part in the second start.

"I thought at the time my car was game over and it wasn’t," he said.

"It just adds to the emotion because we could have probably got going again and probably scored a strong result."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.