Russell criticises European F3 team orders

European F3 star George Russell has criticised the alleged team orders at Prema Powerteam that favour Lance Stroll.

Stroll won the opener at Paul Ricard last weekend after making an easy pass on team-mate Nick Cassidy. Cassidy claimed he grabbed first gear by accident but Russell – who was third – said: “I feel sorry for Nick – to have to give his position up to Lance on the first lap of the first race is bad for the championship.

“Nick can talk about mistakes, but it’s rubbish. He was on the back of Lance throughout the race. Hitech don’t have a way of protecting me like Prema do with Lance.”

Stroll was taken out at the start of race two in a pile-up. Cassidy took the lead but made a mistake, allowing Briton Callum Ilott to win. Cassidy failed to win the third race either as a last-corner lunge on team-mate Maximilian Gunther was unsuccessful.