George Russell suggests that Mercedes demonstrated their true capabilities with a strong showing at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he finished second, splitting the McLarens. This performance, he feels, was a `real test` for the team. However, he tempers expectations regarding his prospects in the Formula 1 championship race.
Russell has enjoyed his best season start, securing three podiums in the first four races. Mercedes is currently second in the Constructors` Championship, trailing McLaren.
His recent podium finish in Bahrain, placing him between McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, has boosted Russell`s confidence. He believes Mercedes might have addressed a significant weakness from 2024 – performance in high temperatures.
`The result is honestly very encouraging,` Russell stated.
`Bahrain was the true proving ground for us. We were aware that our car performs well in cooler conditions, and our competitiveness in China and Suzuka wasn`t entirely unexpected.`
`The real question was Bahrain. We`ve had another strong weekend, which is a positive sign for the rest of the season.`
Team principal Toto Wolff hailed Russell`s second-place finish as `unbelievable`.
Russell faced challenges in the latter part of the race, managing electrical issues and a brake-by-wire (BBW) malfunction in his W16, all while running on soft tires for the final 25 laps with Norris close behind.
Wolff explained, `Driving a race car with a BBW failure, compared to conventional brakes, is akin to power steering failing intermittently. It demands immense skill to adjust corner by corner. We were concerned about losing the entire dashboard, which would mean losing access to critical settings and shift lights. It was a significant distraction.`
Wolff added, `It was an incredible drive. Considering the issues with the car, finishing P2 ahead of Norris is a fantastic outcome.`
Russell Remains Doubtful About Title Challenge
Heading into the Saudi Arabian GP, the fifth race of the season, Russell is 13 points behind championship leader Norris.
Is he a genuine contender for the world title for the first time in his F1 career?
`I would like to think so, but realistically, I don`t believe we are,` he admitted. `McLaren is simply too dominant at the moment.`
`I think Bahrain likely represents their peak performance this week. China and Suzuka probably showed their weakest performance, yet they still secured a victory in those two races.`
`We need to consistently gather points and capitalize on opportunities. This weekend, we seized the chance to finish P2, similar to Melbourne where we achieved P3.`
`I`m not expecting this to continue for many races, but who knows.`
Wolff pointed out McLaren`s rapid improvement from last year, noting, `Looking at McLaren`s progress since last year, it demonstrates how quickly things can change.`
`On Sunday, we were a few tenths off the pace, but we must perform at our best and see how we fare on different circuits.`
Saudi Arabian GP Schedule (UK Time)
Thursday, April 17
- 4pm: Drivers` Press Conference
Friday, April 18
- 10.50am: F2 Practice
- 12pm: F1 Academy Practice
- 2pm: Saudi Arabian GP Practice One (session starts at 2.30pm)
- 3.55pm: F2 Qualifying
- 4.40pm: Team Bosses` Press Conference
- 5.45pm: Saudi Arabian GP Practice Two (session starts at 6pm)
- 7.25pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
- 8.10pm: The F1 Show
Saturday, April 19
- 1.15pm: F1 Academy Race 1
- 2.05pm: Saudi Arabian GP Practice Three (session starts at 2.30pm)*
- 4.10pm: F2 Sprint
- 5.10pm: Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying build-up
- 6pm: SAUDI ARABIAN GP QUALIFYING
Sunday, April 20
- 1pm: F1 Academy Race 2
- 2.20pm: F2 Feature Race
- 4.30pm: Saudi Arabian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
- 6pm: THE SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX*
- 8pm: Saudi Arabian GP reaction: Chequered flag
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
