"George Russell found himself kneeling, clutching his abdomen in shock due to an unexpected absence in the F1 race."
Rewritten Article:
Oops! We've Got a Missing MGP Star – Here's Why George Russell Was Absent
F1 enthusiasts were left scratching their heads when they noticed an empty seat during the post-race press conference of the Miami Grand Prix. The usual suspects, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, were present, but the third podium finisher, George Russell, was MIA - but now we know the reason why.
Filling that empty seat should have been none other than Mercedes' George Russell, but unfortunately, he had to bow out due to some not-so-fun 'medical issues'. The press conference host explained that the Brit was given a pass for these 'medical reasons'. The normally jubilant McLaren duo looked a bit bewildered, especially considering that the FIA's top three drivers press conference is the last Media Duty call of the day[1].
Russell had already completed the podium ceremony and the interview with the BBC where he candidly talked about his discomfort. "I'm feeling like crap right now," he admitted. "It happens to me maybe twice a season, sometimes it's due to my dodgy breakfast. This morning, I had some avocado toast, and a flat white - not the best choices, I suppose."
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### George Russell's Helmet, a Historical Memento Smashes Auction Records### Schumacher's Regretful Retirement U-Turn Ignored by Confidant"I had a weird breakfast this morning, woke up early and had some avocado toast, probably not the smartest idea at 7 am. Then I had a flat white, which was probably foolish too, so that might be why I'm feeling like this."
Jennie Gow, the BBC reporter who interviewed Russell, later gave some insights into Russell's condition during the interview. "He was in some serious discomfort during that conversation," she mentioned on the Chequered Flag Podcast. "He was lying on the ground, clutching his stomach. He said it happens once or twice a year. He said he felt like he was pregnant, poor guy!"
While Russell was dealing with his stomach woes, the Red Bull camp was protesting his podium finish[2]. They claimed that Russell did not slow sufficiently for a single yellow flag during the race, when the crash involving Oliver Bearman occurred. However, the race stewards rejected the protest, allowing Russell to keep hold of the podium for Mercedes' first-ever victory in Miami.
It was also Russell's fourth rostrum of the season, the same number he managed in the entirety of 2024. Ranked fourth and six points behind reigning world champion Max Verstappen in third, Russell has been a bright spot in this season.
"I feel we've reached the peak performance of the car in every race weekend," he declared post-race[3]. "I don't think there's been a single weekend where we could've achieved a better result. We're second in the teams' championship, but we haven't had the second fastest car at best, only the third, but we keep scoring those podiums."
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- USAToday reported that the medical issue Russell faced was severe stomach pain during the final 10 laps of the race.
- Red Bull claimed that Russell didn't slow sufficiently for the waved yellow flag during the race when the crash involving Oliver Bearman occurred, but the race stewards rejected the protest.
- Russell mentioned in an interview that the team had extracted the maximum potential from the car and hadn't missed a chance to score a better result.
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George Russell, despite his standout performance that earned him a podium finish at the Miami Grand Prix, was surprisingly absent from the post-race press conference due to medical issues. The press conference host allowed him a pass due to these reasons, and it was later revealed that he was experiencing severe stomach pain, likely caused by his breakfast choices. Though George missed the press conference, his historical helmet was auctioned off, breaking records.
