Mercedes is definitely a lot more satisfied with the course of the pre-season tests than a year ago, but there is no need to expect miracles right at the beginning of the year. George Russell dampened fans’ expectations ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday. However, he did not hide his optimism that Mercedes will eventually make it.
The team from Brackley and Brixworth haven’t put in any jaw-dropping fast laps yet, but they’ve clocked up more than 200 laps. During them, he collected data and got to know the single-seater, which is said to be much friendlier to riders than a year ago.
“I feel like we’ve taken a step in the right direction,” he chatted George Russell on Friday for lunch. “However, we know very well that in sport it’s not about feelings, it’s about lap times. I think everything is running much smoother compared to twelve months ago. When we were here last year, the hopping set off the alarm. We weren’t sure how to solve it. We were a bit lost, the car did not have good characteristics. So everything goes much more smoothly.”
“So far we have good reliability, which allows us to complete our test program. Of course, there are a few things on the car that we need to improve. However, I would say that we are in the position that we expected,” evaluates the British rider.
Lewis Hamilton got into the Mercedes car on Friday morning. On-board footage from his drives showed that he had to fight with the car quite often, especially with its rear end. George Russell has been watching all this closely, but so far it’s not causing the wrinkles on his forehead that they had at Mercedes a year ago.
“Improved cornering phase,” he began to describe the behavior of the car. “I think it’s no secret that we have a bit of a balance problem, just look at the on-board footage. We struggle in the middle of the turns. However, solving problems with balance is easier than solving problems from last year. Even though it limits us, this is one of those good problems.”
And although there is a good mood at Mercedes, George Russell is cautious in his predictions for the opening grand prix of the season. The pre-season tests belong to Max Verstappen so far, so it could continue for another week.
And while it might not be enough for Red Bull at first, the bulls could capitulate later in the year. “You certainly enter the season with faith. But I believe every second of my career that once you’re on the track, you have to take a rational attitude. We definitely believe that in the end we will have a car that can be part of that fight. Will it be in Bahrain next weekend? I think it will be for a long time.”
“They give a very strong impression, very stable. Their car looks really strong and Max performs well. If I look at it realistically, it will be long elbows in a week. But I see no reason why we can’t get there within a year. We have seen what Mercedes is strong at and what its pace of development is. So we definitely believe,” he added.
