George Russell demands F1 change as Japanese Grand Prix raises major issue

George Russell has made a request of tyre suppliers Pirelli after a dull . There was a distinct lack of overtaking action during with many drivers finishing in the same position in which they started.

And , who was one of those who found themselves unable to make progress, laid the blame for that outcome squarely at the feet of . By the time every drivers switched onto the hard tyres, management became a secondary concern as the degradation of the rubber was very low.

The driver said after the race he wants Pirelli to re-evaluate its tyre choices and suggested the durability of the rubber they chose had ruined the race as a spectacle. He also pointed out that it was "really difficult" to make any attempt to overtake.

Russell, who finished fifth behind which was the same order in which they started, said: "The last two weekends it's been an easy one-stop strategy, and I think when the track gets resurfaced, Pirelli need to bring softer tyres because that hard tyre could go forever.

"We were pushing so fast, so hard, but you just couldn't overtake. I don't think I would have had the pace of the top three, but I was matching the pace of Charles and I couldn't get by."

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Fifth place represented another solid points haul for Russell, who has started the new season well. He could not add to the two podium appearances with which he started the year, but seemed to be reasonably satisfied with fifth place, even if he did lament that he never got the chance to challenge the ahead.

He added: "The last couple of years, I've not been very consistent myself and it's something I have wanted to work on, maybe having less [sic] fluctuations. It's been a solid start to the year and I've been happy.

"I don't think we could have achieved a higher result in the first two races. Today, maybe P4 probably would have been a fair result but we came home in P5. I don't think we've seen the best of McLaren yet - it's been three cold races, we've been wearing jackets here and last week.

"I think when we go to in 35 degree heat and Saudi in 36 degrees, I think that's where we're going to see those guys excel. We know we've always been strong in the cooler conditions, so I have my feet on the ground. It's been a great first few races but there are 21 to go! It's early days."

Those Bahrain and races are next up on the calendar. The Japanese Grand Prix was the first of a triple-header of races to round off the first of two Asian legs of F1's tour around the globe this season.

The Bahrain Grand Prix has become the usual season curtain-raiser in recent years. However, due to the timing of Ramadan this year, both that race and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix were pushed back to be rounds four and five of this campaign.