Russell explains Australia crash worry

George Russell has explained his 'worry' at being stranded in the middle of the track following his late crash at the Australian Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver crashed in avoidance of Fernando Alonso - who was penalised for potentially dangerous driving following a post-race investigation - on the penultimate lap at Albert Park.

After skating across the gravel at Turn six, Russell's W15 spun back around and onto its side in the middle of Turn seven, with the floor of the car exposed to oncoming traffic.

Race control first threw double yellow flags before upgrading to a virtual safety car but team radio revealed panicked calls from Russell for the race to be red-flagged immediately, such was his precarious position.

Addressing the incident when asked if he had suffered any lasting effects, Russell told media including RacingNews365: "I'm ok.

"It was not a pleasant place to be, in the middle of a high-speed corner, on the racing line and with the VSC taking 10 or 15 seconds to come out.

"It doesn't sound like a lot but you can have three cars coming around the corner in the space of 10 seconds.

"When you are doing 250 [kph] in a corner and there is a car in the middle of the road... I was really quite worried."