‘We don't know what is going on’ – Russell and Mercedes perplexed by speed deficit after Silverstone Qualifying

George Russell says he and his Mercedes team are perplexed by his speed deficit on the straights relative to all the other Mercedes-powered cars after he ended up fourth on the grid for Sunday's British Grand Prix.

The Briton, who has never finished higher than fifth at his home race, had a tough start to Qualifying as he locked up at Luffield and skated into the gravel before kissing the barriers with his front wing.

Russell managed to escape and retreat to the pits before putting in a time good enough to progress, but he simply couldn't match the impressive lap times set by his team mate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who took his fifth pole position of the season.

"I was confused [by his pace] after Qualifying yesterday but looking at the data we just realised I was losing all my speed in the straight," said Russell, who will start the Grand Prix fourth for the second year in a row.

"Yesterday it was a couple of tenths we lost on the straight. We thought we found the issue this morning but it turned out to be a bit of a bum read.

"It's the same again now just looking at the speed trap. [I'm] 6kph down in the last sector, 3kph down in the mid sector. It's not just to Kimi but all Mercedes-powered cars. We don't know what is going on.

"The team is working hard to understand what it is. For sure it makes it a bit frustrating."

Mercedes have had a strong race car on Sunday afternoons but after a bright start in the Sprint, where Russell rose into the top-three, he ultimately couldn't maintain it and ended up fourth.

So, what are the Briton's hopes for Sunday - and how does he feel about potentially carrying the deficit on the straights into Sunday's Grand Prix in front of his home fans?

"That worries me going into tomorrow because, at the moment, we don't know what the issue is or how we are going to resolve it," he said.

"[But] the team will work hard to see if there is anything we can change or figure out what might be the issue."

Mercedes Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord reckons Russell can definitely make some progress from tomorrow considering the Silver Arrows' tyre degradation in race trim is "pretty competitive".

"A tricky Q1 when he locked the fronts and ended up skidding through the gravel," he told F1 TV. "I think he was pretty smart letting go of the brakes so he didn't end up beached. He got it all the way to the end of the gravel trap and then could get back [to the pits].

"From there he had to rebuild. It was a really strong first lap in Q3, second one he said the tyres weren't quite there having waited in the pit lane and having to get them up to temperature.

"But even so: P4, second row - that's one step better than yesterday, and I think we saw in the Sprint, our tyre deg is pretty competitive so I'm sure he'll be setting his sights on much bigger things tomorrow."