Pi🎐astri was on course for his maiden F1 podium finish at Silverജstone until a mid-race Safety Car was deployed.

This allowed Hamilton, who had yet to pit, to stop under the Safety Ca🔯r and lose less time through the pit lane.

Hamilton rejoined ahead of Piastri, with the pair 💙remaining third and fourth until the en✨d of the race.

Speaking tꦗo Sky after the race, Russell said: “The McLarens were impressive, they drove a greꦺat race.

“I feel bad for Oscar. He was driving really well, I’ve been super impressed♐ by what he has achieved this year. He was the deserving podium finisher.”

Russell als🦹o lost out to teammate Hamilton through the Safety Car phase.

“Unfortunately the Safety Car timing hin♉dered him, and hindered myself,” he added. “It was a relatively good weekend for us. Our pace compared to Ferrari, Aston and Red Bullꩲ was probably better than what we thought. But the McLarens came from nowhere.”

Given McLaren’s surpr🅷is𝓡ing pace, Russell conceded there will be a lot of “head scratching” at Mercedes.

“It does [give us hope]. Bꦑut you need to know where to look,” he concluded. “I believe we know where we’re looking and what we’re chasing. 

“I hope it’s a one-off. But they were quick in Austria too. I thou𝐆ght their strategy was wrong - going on the hards - the softs was such a great tyre. They would have been further ahead with the softs. Interesting… head scratching right now.”