Russell: I'm absolutely buzzing, we'll go for it!

The Williams looked handy around Spa-Francorchamps but qualifying conditions were no one's friend and no one would have predicted what was to come. Wet weather is always the great leveller for racing drivers and today it sent a loud and clear message to all and sundry.

By the time the spray had settled on a mesmerising session, the Williams of Russell was second fastest, denied top spot on the grid for tomorrow's race by Max Verstappen's mega pole-winning effort.

However, Russell had not only trounced (works Mercedes driver) Valtteri Bottas by 2.5 seconds he had was also a tenth quicker than Lewis Hamilton. The 23-year-old could not have scripted a more apt message to Toto Wolff than he did today.

Speaking during his first appearance in parc ferme after qualifying and the press conference thereafter, beaming Russell said afterwards: "I'm absolutely buzzing. Tomorrow's the most important one, but it's been mega today. I'm delighted for everyone. If the weather is the same and it's there for the taking, we'll go for it!"

He added in the TV pen: “I was in a fortunate position that we had nothing to lose. We were in Q3 which was not a norm for us and we had to go for it. We saved a full maximum engine mode for the last lap, and we thought: You know what? Let’s go for it."

Russell starts the race sandwiched between title contenders Hamilton and Verstappen, but his mind is on leading: “That’s the plan, that’s the plan. If it’s there for the taking, we’ll go for it.”

But at the same time has no illusions: “We’ve obviously got to be realistic; we’ve got incredibly fast cars behind us but if conditions stay the same we have a car, which is probably quick enough, on merit, for the top 10.

“But if we start on the front row there’s no reason we can’t hold on to that position for the majority of the race, but I don’t think I’m going to do anything stupid with the cars around me that are clearly going to be faster than us.

There’s no reason why we can’t finish, if the conditions are like this, top-five and just maximise it,” explained Russell who starts his 50th Grand Prix on Sunday. (Additional reporting by Agnes Carlier)