Russell was 'waiting for a disaster to happen' after he crashed at the Australian GP

SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — George Russell spoke for the first time about his dramatic crash with Fernando Alonso in the Australian Grand Prix last month and said Thursday that race officials need to respond quicker to such incidents to avoid a catastrophe.

Russell described his fear of sitting in a crashed car unprotected on the track, where drivers reach speeds of 250 kph (155 mph).

“It was an incredible position to be in,” Russell said of the crash at Turn No. 6. “You’re on a blind bend, 250 kilometers per hour, right on the racing line with the car half upside down. You’re waiting for a disaster to happen.

“Fortunately, I had a 10-second gap behind me. And I think it was 10 or 12 seconds before the safety car came out. But in the space of 10 seconds you can have five, six, seven cars — if that was on lap one of the race — and probably been hit numerous times even with the yellow flag.”

Russell called for a quicker response time and the use of technology to help get the safety car out faster.

“We need to find a way that if a car is in a danger zone, it’s automated straight away, within half a second or so, because those seconds count and lives are at risk. It’s time with the technology that we have now to make steps in this area.”

Alonso was given a 20-second penalty for what stewards called his “unusual maneuver" with Russell behind him. That description of his move could entail braking and driving slowly, which could impede other drivers.

Russell, speaking before Sunday's Japanese GP, said he saw Alonso in a coffee shop days after the Australian race.

“We both move forward from this,” Russell said.

Asked if he had talked to Alonso about the incident in the coffee shop, he replied. “No, we didn't. He didn't get my coffee, though.”

Russell said drivers have a right to brake, downshift or speed up to get the right “racing line.” But he suggested limits.

“When we start braking in the middle of the straight, downshifting, accelerating, upshifting again, then braking again, I think that goes beyond the realm of adjusting your line,” Russell said, calling it “one step too far.”

“I don’t think what Fernando did was extraordinarily dangerous, but it will open up a can of worms if it wasn’t penalized.”

Carlos Sainz won the Australian GP just over a week ago. Curiously, the Ferrari driver will be out of work next season with Lewis Hamilton arriving from Mercedes.

So the Spaniard is job hunting.

“I mean, talking to a few (teams) because that’s what my management team and myself should do when I don’t have a job for next year yet," Sainz said.

He has no move to announce but he wants to have one soon.

“The only thing I would say is that, yeah, it’s time now to speed up a bit everything and hopefully we can get it sorted sooner rather than later.”

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who stepped away from Formula 1 after the 2022 season, is reportedly interested in returning. Perhaps to Mercedes to take Hamilton's place — though that's probably a long shot.

Mercedes driver Russell was open to it.

“Sebastian’s a great person and he’s a four-time world champion and, for sure, his personality is missed on the grid," he said. "It’s important that we have the best 20 drivers in the world all competing for race wins and championships.

“I’m really happy and open to have anybody as my teammate, you know, whether it’s a world champion, whether it’s a rookie. It doesn’t change how I go about my business. And, yeah, as I said, we’ll welcome anybody.”

The Suzuka circuit, a figure-eight layout in central Japan, is always a driver favorite. The consensus puts the track among the quickest in F1 with its high-speed corners and tight surroundings.

“The narrowness makes it challenging,” said Sainz, who has a best finish of fifth at Suzuka. “The fact that if you put a wheel off the track, it’s grass or gravel and penalizes the driver. And then the feeling of speed that we have here is, I would say, similar to a track like Imola.”

Max Verstappen, winner of the last two Japanese GPs, called the course “quite intimidating.”

“Because it’s so narrow, if you make a small mistake, you can go off in the grass or gravel. It just adds a bit more to it than some other tracks where you can run wide, you take the tarmac and you can come back on track,” Verstappen said.

“I love this track,” said Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, who said he may have driven 1,000 laps at the circuit.

“Maybe, I don't know, 10,000 laps,” he said, obviously exaggerating.

Fellow Japanese Ayumu Iwasa will drive for RB in the first practice session on Friday, replacing Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo is off to a slow start but will drive the second practice session, qualifying, and in Sunday's race.

AP Formula 1: https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one

Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain steers his car into pit lane during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour,Pool)

Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain steers his car during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain, left, talks with Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France during a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 4, 2024, ahead of Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Williams driver Alexander Albon of Thailand speaks as Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, and Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain listen during a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 4, 2024, ahead of Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France speaks as Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain listens during a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 4, 2024, ahead of Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, their left, speaks as Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz of Spain, from left, Yuki Tsunoda of Japan, driver of RB, the team previously known as AlphaTauri, Williams driver Alexander Albon of Thailand, Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain and Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France listen during a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 4, 2024, ahead of Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain speaks during a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 4, 2024, ahead of Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

CHICAGO (AP) — Nico Hoerner hit his first career lead-off home run, Christopher Morel hit his third homer in as many games and Patrick Wisdom sent one into the stands as the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Saturday.

“Our offense has been a little quiet lately obviously,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. “Christopher’s in a stretch right now. The homers, I think for most guys, come in bunches, and he’s had a good week.”

Chicago tied its first divisional series of the year at one apiece in Counsell’s first series against his former team. Brewers manager Pat Murphy also returned to the dugout after serving a two-game suspension for his role in a brawl with Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Milwaukee came within one twice late in the game. When Chicago’s Keegan Thompson replaced starter Jameson Taillon (3-0), up 4-0 after six strong innings, he walked Rhys Hoskins. Then Oliver Dunn hit a triple that sent Hoskins home. Blake Perkins homered the next at-bat.

Jackson Chourio singled before Counsell brought in Mark Leiter Jr. Sal Frelick then doubled on a ground ball to Mike Tauchman who tossed Dansby Swanson a tough throw he couldn’t collect. Chourio rounded the bases on the error, making the score 4-5.

Leiter cleaned it up in the eighth and Wisdom hit an RBI single in the bottom of the inning that sent Michael Busch home from third.

“I just shortened up the swing, wanted to put something in the middle of the field, and I was able to put the bat on the ball there in a big spot,” Wisdom said. “Every run is important but especially late in the game.”

Héctor Neris came in to pitch the ninth inning and walked Blake Perkins. An RBI single by William Contreras scored Perkins to bring the score within one again. With the winning run on second, Tyler Black grounded into a forceout to end the game, sealing Neris’ sixth save of the season.

“He’s been in every big spot, he’s had the bases loaded, he’s pitched on the road in tough spots, he’s pitched in the playoffs,” Taillon said of Neris. “He’s confident, and there’s definitely no panic.”

Taillon gave up two hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings. The righty has now allowed one earned run or fewer in four straight starts.

“He’s really in control and his command is excellent,” Counsell said. “I thought he did a wonderful job with the running game today, and just executing multiple pitches.”

Brewers starting pitcher Tobias Myers (0-2) allowed four runs on three hits and walked four over three innings for the loss.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: CF Cody Bellinger and RF Seiya Suzuki participated in hitting and defensive drills pregame, and Counsell said returns from the 10-day injured list next week are “realistic” for them both. Bellinger sustained two fractured ribs trying to make a catch into Wrigley Field’s brick wall April 24, while Suzuki suffered a right oblique strain running out a ground ball to first on April 14. “They’re both largely in the same spot,” Counsell said. “I think we’ve got a chance to be without a rehab assignment. It’s likely Seiya does one, a very short one. I think Bellinger, maybe not.”

Brewers: LF Joey Wiemer was placed on the 10-day IL with knee discomfort. Wiemer exited Friday’s game against the Cubs after injuring his left knee trying to catch a ball in left field.

UP NEXT

RHP Javier Assad (2-0, 1.97 ERA) will take the mound Sunday for the Cubs in search of his first win since April 14 against Seattle. The Brewers will start RHP Freddy Peralta (3-0, 3.21), who has appealed a five-game suspension he received for his role in Milwaukee’s brawl against the Rays on Tuesday. Peralta is permitted to play as long as the appeal process isn’t completed before his scheduled appearance.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio swings into a single off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel celebrates his two-run home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tobias Myers during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook, right, talks to catcher William Contreras as Willy Adames, left, and Tobias Myers listen during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom, right, celebrates his home run off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Thyago Vieira with third base coach Willie Harris during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Blake Perkins, right, is hugged in the dugout by Andruw Monasterio after Perkins' two-run home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins is greeted in the dugout after scoring on Oliver Dunn's triple in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Patrick Wisdom hits an RBI single off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Bryan Hudson during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Héctor Neris celebrates after the last out of the team's 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Héctor Neris celebrates after the last out of the team's 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)