Russell unaware of water leak Mercedes feared could have ended Brazil win hopes

Russell scored his maiden grand prix win at Interlagos on Sunday after controlling proceedings to lead home a 1-2 finish ahead of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

It ended Mercedes’ winless season with one race to spare, and came two years after Russell was cruelly denied a likely victory at the Sakhir Grand Prix when he made a stand-in appearance for the team.

But it emerged after the race that an issue on Russell’s car left Mercedes sweating on him actually…