Formula 1 is a game of margins. Sometimes these margins get so close and tiny that it’s difficult to notice with the naked eye. This is exactly what happened between George Russell and Esteban Ocon during the Austrian GP Sprint race. The two, towards the very end of the sprint race, fought tooth and nail to gain a position. This scenario saw one of the closest finishes in the sport’s history as the two ended the race with a margin of 0.009 seconds between them. Coming out on the losing side, a loss for words, Russell could only sum up the intense battle with two words.

After a disappointing qualifying, the Brit started the sprint race in 15th position. However, during the race, a risky decision, Russell pot on the slick tires. The Mercedes man’s gamble worked and he kept gaining positions until he found himself in points at P8. The Brit then came across the Alpine of Ocon.

Ocon and Russell fought till the very end but the Frenchman managed to keep his P7 position and finish the Sprint race with two points. However, as we all know now, the gap between the two was a mere 0.009 seconds. The intense battle followed by the photo finish was a treat to the racing fraternity.

In fact, Mercedes did not let this opportunity by and showed its fans what the difference of 0.009 seconds at 280kmph looks like with an Instagram post. Russell shared the same post on his Instagram story with his two-worded summation of the race. Russell shared the post and write, “So close…”

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Indeed, George Russell, indeed! Although one can’t take anything away from Ocon as well, who has been brilliant in the Alpine and has been for quite some time, Russell said so himself. However, it’s the tiny margins that change the narrative of any race. Russell knows that with his recent experience in Monaco as well.

George Russell lost out on a comfortable P3 to Esteban Ocon in Monaco because of a tiny error

The Brit was driving his new and improved W14 without the zero pod concept for the first time. The instant performance boost saw the Brit fighting for the podium. However, the unexpected rain in the latter half of the race changed that narrative for Russell. The Brit stayed out on his hard tires despite most of the grid opting for intermediate tires, and slid into the Mirabeau escape road.

This meant Russell not only lost some places, but he also lost out on his first ever Monaco podium. The Brit explained how a tiny error cost him that.

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“I’m really kicking myself because P3 was almost guaranteed after not pitting. I came out, there was a yellow flag, I backed off, and as soon as I touched the brakes, I locked up and followed (Lance) Stroll up the escape road,” Russell explained. “But it’s very bitterly disappointing when you do everything right for 98 percent of it, but that one tiny mistake costs everything,” he added, summing up life in F1.

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Ocon eventually took the last podium place in Monaco and Russell could only watch from behind his teammate in P5. Even if you do everything right, you don’t get rewarded and sometimes one tiny error can cost you a race. Such is life in F1!