Mercedes Pre-Season Testing: What we learnt from George Russell and Lewis Hamilton’s initial W13 run in Barcelona

The first Pre-season Testing in Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has concluded and all the 10 teams have completed a successful shakedown of their 2022 cars. With new regulations in place, every bit of data collected from the test shall be useful in devising strategies across the season. Let’s know how well defending Constructors Champions Mercedes fared in the Testing at Barcelona.

• Mercedes who have claimed every constructors title since the Turbo Hybrid era began in 2014 hope to contiue their domination. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell participated in all 3 days of the testing with the duo topping the charts on the last day of testing. Trackside Engineer Director Andrew Shovlin for satisfied by the performance by the team and said, they were “pleased” with how the week has gone.

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Lewis Hamilton Lap timings and laps completed

Lewis Hamilton will be hunting for his lost crown. The Brit lost to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in an epic season where the two shared a fierce rivalry. With 184 laps covered over the three days, Hamilton had a good start on the first day but set the clock on the last day with the fastest time of the Pre-season Test.

Geroge Russell Lap Timings and Laps completed

George Russell will take a big jump from Williams to Mercedes in the front of the grid. But the 24-year-old find seem out of his place as he outperformed teammate Hamilton on the first two days of the test. With more than 200 laps covered across the 3 days, Russell set his best time on day 3 with a 1:19:233 which was the fastest time set until Hamilton raised the bar by surpassing his time.

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Struggles faced by Mercedes

Mercedes set a good pace across all three days of testing. But due to the new configurations and low rake, the Silver Arrows were victim to porpoising. Hamilton stated that the team had faced some ‘obstacles’ in managing airflow.

Geroge Russell said “I think we’ll see some changes come to Bahrain, and throughout the season. I’m sure the development slope is going to be pretty rapid for everyone. Whoever can get on top of that the quickest and most efficiently will be the ones on top come to the end of the season.”

Although Mercedes concluded the test with a P1 and P2, Russell claimed that the lap times meant nothing in terms of car potential and there is still work to be done. Mercedes are set to be working revised sidepod area to help further reduce the car’s drag on the straight and better manage airflow ahead of the Official Pre-season test in Bahrain.

Key positives for Mercedes to take away

Mercedes set the fastest time of the time in the Barcelona test. Andrew Shovlin, the trackside engineering director said “We’re pleased with how the week has gone, we planned a very busy programme for the three days and we managed to get through the high priority items, making good progress with the car and power unit.”

Although Mercedes will be running a much more refined car in the Bahrain test, the Brackley based team have lamented their spot as frontrunners for the title race and will be looking forward to defending their title for the 9th consecutive time.

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