George Russell seals podium finish for Mercedes at 2022 Spanish Grand Prix

George Russell recorded his second podium finish of the season at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.

The former Wisbech Grammar School student had put in his best qualifying performance of the season on Saturday.

He proceeded to start on the second row come race day, and ended up getting embroiled in a feisty battle with reigning world champion Max Verstappen.

On lap 14, Russell made his first of three pit stops to change his worn soft tyres for a set of fresh, more durable medium tyres.

On lap 27, Russell took the lead of the race after pit stops from the other drivers and the retirement of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc - the first time he had led a Grand Prix since December 2020.

Four laps later, the Mercedes driver lost the lead to Perez as the Mexican was fighting on fresher tyres.

In the closing stages of the Grand Prix, Russell was given orders by the team to ‘lift and coast’ and avoid using the brakes to prevent a mechanical issue ruining his chances of a podium finish.

Russell finished the race in third, two places ahead of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton, giving him his best finishing position at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Formula One.

Following his impressive result, Russell said: “I’m so proud to be standing here on the podium and to bring it home for the team.

“It was a very difficult last few laps and a real survival race when we knew we had the gap to manage.”"

The podium place means Russell is the only driver to have recorded top five finishes in all six Grand Prix this season.

His campaign is set to continue in Monaco this weekend.