Russell: It's been a really challenging season for us

Russell would've expected after joining Mercedes in 2022 that his time of fighting for underwhelming results at Williams was over, and that wins and podiums are beckoning.

While it was a definite improvement for the Briton, Mercedes have dropped the ball since 2022, and got their sums wrong with their cars since then, and while Russell took his first win in F1 in 2022 in Brazil in a Mercedes, as well as ten podiums, he definitely would have expected more.

The 2023 season was tough for Mercedes, that recovering to finish second in the 2023 F1 Constructors' Standings behind Red Bull and beating the likes of Aston Martin, Ferrari, and McLaren felt like a great achievement for the eight-time F1 Constructors' Champions.

Russell said in Mercedes' team report on Sunday in Abu Dhabi: "Today's result means a huge amount and I'm really pleased we've secured P2 for the team. There are so many people back at the factory in Brackley and Brixworth, who have worked so hard to achieve this.

"It's been a really challenging season for us," Russell added. "I've let the side down a couple of times this year so I'm pleased to bring it across the line today. It was really intense at the end and so close with Perez, his pace was just great.

"I thought Charles was going to back me up but respect to him for keeping it clean. I'm happy to end the season this way with a podium," he concluded reflecting in Charles Leclerc's tactics towards the end of the race.

Leclerc allowed Sergio Perez (who had a five-second penalty) to pass him hoping the Mexican will finish ahead of Russell, allowing Ferrari to beat Mercedes, but it didn't pan out as he hoped.

Lewis Hamilton who was eliminated in Q2 during qualifying on Saturday, finished the race ninth, scoring two points on the day contributing to his team's final ressult.

He commented: "I'm happy for the team that we've managed to secure P2 in the Constructor's Championship, it was a great effort by the team at track and both in Brackley and Brixworth.

"But we're not where we want to be yet, we want to be competing for the championship and race wins and this weekend showed that we need to dig deep and work hard during the winter to get back to where we want to be and come back stronger next year.

"I hope everyone at the factory is happy with the result today and I'm grateful for all the hard work the team has put into this season, it's been a long and tough year for us," the seven-time F1 Champion concluded.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reflected on the race and the battle with Ferrari, he said: "It was a fight for P2 in the Constructor's Championship up until the very end and so close and today feels like we've won.

"George's driving was exceptional and Charles showed true sportsman-like behaviour, not trying to slow down. Two great teams and brands that fought until the end.

"The fight for P2 in the Constructor's in a way was so positive for us and a huge reward for the whole team to be vice champion, but it's also a big motivation to do better next year and that's what we will focus on now," he explained.

Wolff insisted the future is bright for his team, he revealed: "We have so much good things in the pipeline, so much new things and with all the learning we had I am really, really in a good place to see what's coming together.

"We've got to take the momentum now from the third place here, P2 in the championship and then take that into the factories.

"We're vice champions and that's a good one to take home - we got to reach for the stars and that's going to happen, I promise," the Austrian concluded.