George Russell expects Mercedes to only be fourth-best at the F1 Bahrain GP
The British driver doesn't expect the Silver Arrows to be faster than even Aston Martin this weekend.
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George Russell
The Bahrain Grand Prix weekend is underway. Mercedes come to the season opener after an underwhelming pre-season testing. The Silver Arrows worked extensively on its 2023 challenger. Although, the team has admitted its failure to close the gap to Red Bull and Ferrari. George Russell recently expressed his concerns over the position of the German team in the pecking order.
Firstly, the British driver acknowledged the performance of the arch-rivals Red Bull Racing. The 25-year-old said, “I think it’s definitely fair to say Red Bull are in a bit of a league of their own this weekend here in Bahrain.” Moreover, George Russell expected the Silver Arrows to slip down the order with the rise of Aston Martin at the F1 season opener. He explained, “But I think it would probably be a nice fight for second place, probably between Ferrari and Aston Martin.”
However, George Russell was quick to mention that this pecking order would probably differ as the F1 season progresses. The British driver stated how the Bahrain GP tested the cars differently than other tracks on the calendar. He said, “It’s important to remember we all try and design a car that’s fastest across the 23 race season and Bahrain is definitely a bit of an outlier. So, I don’t think the picture of this weekend will be the full picture for the whole season.”
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George Russell has faith in Mercedes to improve over the course of 2023
The 25-year-old was confident that the Silver Arrows would improve as they worked around the clock on the Mercedes W14. George Russell said, “I think even the improvements we’re going to probably bring to the car this weekend compared to the test will take us a step closer.” Previously, Toto Wolff had stated that Mercedes is working on updates for the car.
George Russell was adamant that the gap in the Bahrain race would not be seen by the latter half of the year. He said, “I’ll be surprised if the gaps are that large at other circuits.” The 25-year-old appreciated the fewer races in the early part of the season as a way for the team to develop the F1 car. He explained,“it gives us some time to develop in the wind tunnel and back at the factory to fight for when the main block of races come.”
Thus, George Russell has ruled out a spot in the top 3 for Mercedes in Bahrain. It would be the first time in over a decade that the Silver Arrows slipped back to such an extent. Although, the reality of the situation will only come to light after Qualifying at the circuit. But it seems that the chances for the German team to challenge its rivals are slim for the season opener.
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Armaan Agarwal
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