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Mercedes driver George Russell has admitted he "definitely needs a break" after a challenging first half of the Formula 1 season, unlike anything he's experienced in his career so far.
The Briton heads into the summer break trailing teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 59 points, with much of that deficit attributed to circumstances beyond his control.
From losing positions due to ill-timed safety cars to multiple reliability issues, Russell concedes that adapting to the new generation of cars has been tough, but it's undeniable that luck has also played a significant role in his season.
After yet another Mercedes car issue derailed his start in Hungary, sending him to the back of the grid, Russell was asked how he manages the mental toll of these setbacks.
"You can't get frustrated by things that are out of your control," he stated. "In Hungary, the race was completely ruined. I executed my procedure correctly at the start. The pace was good. The result was awful. But the things I could control were just fine.""Normally, I don't feel like I need a break. This year, I definitely feel like I do."
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