Roared on by a huge 86,000 fans at a packed-out Silverstone on Friday evening, the Williams driver produced another superb qualifying display as he secured a spot i🌠n Q3 for the second consecutive race.

Russell was greeted by a massive cheer❀ as he crossed the line with a lap time good enough for eighth on the grid for Satur♐day’s 100km sprint race.

After qualifying, Russell told Channel 4 that he was “lost for words” as he credited the support from the crowd as being key to his latest impressivܫe performance.

“Incredible, incredible,” he sai🐓d. “Damon Hill told me the crowd’s wo🌞rth a second and I thought he was lying but maybe he’s right.

“Incredib♍le support and an amazing feeling, second Q3, and we’re on this roll at the moment. Being here, seeing everybody, everything together, it’s great.

“I had a bit of a rubbish FP1 so I knew I ne𓄧eded to step it up for quali and we did that.”

Asked what he f🅷elt♊ had made the difference in qualifying following his practice struggles, Russell replied: “I don’t know.

“The track was a bit green, we were a bit lost with the set-up and we said right, let’s g༒o back to basics, don’t 💞overthink it, let the track come to us.

“I went out first lap Q1 and I knew we were in a good spot, buzzing to be honest. ཧAnd my family are here, they haven’t been to a race since Abu Dhabi 2019 so that’s nice for me as well, and for them.”

And the 21-year-old Briton has no plans to 🧜hold back in the sprint race as he looks to capitalise on any drivers favouring⭕ a cautious approach.

“I think a lot of guys will try and play it a ♌bit easy as they want a good starting position for Sunday but we’re going for it,” he explained.

“It’s another race for me, I want to move forward and fight with these guys around me, and have t♌he best starting position possible for Sundꦿay.

“So I’m treating it like any other Sunday – Saturday this time – and just going forꦆ it.”