George Russell admits Mercedes’ resurgence in 2024 is not a promise
Mercedes targets a return to the top with an entirely different car concept in 2024.
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George Russell (Via IMAGO)
Following the subpar performance of the W14 and the drivers failing to extract any pace advantage from the car, Mercedes has shifted all their attention to their 2024 challenger. They have already started working on developing W15, capable of challenging Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. Now George Russell has come forward, admitting success of w15 isn’t guaranteed.
W14 seemed to produce insufficient downforce and also had balance issues. This caused Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Russell to be ‘underconfident’ while tackling high-speed corners. To sort out all the struggles they are facing, the team has started bringing updates on the current W14 to get crucial information for the development of W15 next year while addressing issues the drivers have with it.
Russell feels that Mercedes cannot make a ‘promise’ that the W15 next year could catch up to the RB20 in terms of performance. He said, as reported by racingnews365.com, “We can never promise what we’re going to deliver over the winter in terms of a result because it’s a relative game.” He added that there are a lot of places where Mercedes could ‘improve.’
Russell also echoes his confidence in his team and says, “But I’m extremely confident in my team and very confident in the decision-makers and the direction we’re heading.” He pointed out that the team won’t repeat their mistakes next season. He said, “We’ve made some really great learnings, and we won’t trip up and make a mistake as we have done these past few seasons.”
What does his teammate Lewis Hamilton think about the developments?
Hamilton also reflected on Russell’s comments. He said that the competition and focus for Mercedes were with themselves and not necessarily with Red Bull. He also talked about his confidence in the team and was sure that the guys back at the factory would create capable machinery.
Speaking of the progression of W15, Hamilton shows uncertainty and says that no one is too sure about the car. He also says they are unsure of where they are headed regarding development, and no one knows. Their current focus is on their jobs and not on closing the gap between the two teams.
Toto Wolff, the team principal at Mercedes, also commented on the vehicle’s progress. He added that the team’s strategy for the W15 will be to ‘go back to the basics.’ Wolff also added that the team has chosen only to include the updates that they ‘really understand’ and to set aside the information that is beyond their understanding.
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Justin P Joy
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