George Russell has been advised not to make unnecessary confessions of his own guilt in emotional post-race interviews.
Mercedes driver Russell achieved a podium at last weekend’s F1 Canadian Grand Prix, although he started from pole position.
He later confessed that the inability to turn pole into an unexpected victory was due to driving errors.
Russell said after the race: “If you told us before this weekend, pole and third position? We may not have believed you.
“It was a complicated race. One millimeter wide and that’s it.
“For me, there were too many mistakes at key moments…”
But Natalie Pinkham reacted on the F1 Nation podcast: “It’s very endearing when someone criticizes themselves because the first person you should look at in the mirror is yourself. Charles does it too.
“You need, almost, to create an image of yourself that you want others to accept.
“If you’re the first person to publicly say ‘it was my fault,’ then a few months later we might not remember what happened but we might say ‘wasn’t it George’s fault?’
“Maybe we wouldn’t think that if he hadn’t mentioned it!
“Always be positive and constructive, but you also have to acknowledge it.
“I loved it when Kevin Magnussen said in Miami, ‘I deserved those penalties.’
“Maybe it’s just part of (Russell’s) personality. I think it’s an endearing trait.
“You want to create a really positive brand for your racing. You want everyone else to accept you.”
“Don’t fool us! But be confident in your statements about your ability to drive.”
Tom Clarkson responded: “Part of his reaction was due to the fact that he now has a really competitive car under him.”
Pinkham added of Russell: “He knows he was on pole. This was his best chance to win this season.
“He would have been really frustrated.
“Maybe you need to hold back a little more when the microphone goes right under your nose.
“I shouldn’t say that! Because I love hearing the raw, real reaction of drivers, not PR talk!
“If I was running it, I’d say ‘don’t do that initially and we’ll look at it later in the team report.'”
