George Russell thinks Mercedes` impressive performance in the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he finished second, demonstrated significant progress for the team. He believes they successfully challenged McLaren, proving their capabilities in hot weather conditions. However, Russell is still tempering expectations regarding his chances in the Formula 1 championship fight.
Russell has achieved podium finishes in three of the first four races this season, marking his best start to a season. Mercedes is currently positioned second in the Constructors` Championship, trailing only McLaren.
His recent podium in Bahrain, placing him between McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, has boosted Russell`s confidence. He suggests Mercedes may have resolved their performance issues in hot conditions, which were a weakness in the 2024 season.
`The result is honestly very encouraging,` Russell stated.
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`This race was a true test for us. We knew our car performs well in cooler temperatures, and our competitiveness in China and Suzuka wasn`t a complete surprise.`
`Bahrain was the real question mark. We`ve had another strong weekend here, which is a positive sign for the rest of the season.`
Team principal Toto Wolff praised Russell`s second-place finish as `unbelievable`.
Russell faced challenges in the final laps, managing electrical problems and a brake-by-wire (BBW) issue in his W16 car, all while using soft tires for the last 25 laps and being pursued by Norris.
Wolff explained the difficulty: `If you`ve experienced driving a race car with and without BBW or conventional brakes, it`s comparable to power steering failure, but with intermittent adjustments corner by corner. It demanded exceptional skill.`
Wolff added, `We were concerned about losing the entire dashboard, which would mean losing access to buttons, settings adjustments, and shift lights, which is a significant distraction.`
The Mercedes boss concluded, `It was an incredible drive. Considering the car`s issues, finishing P2 ahead of Norris is a fantastic outcome.`
Russell Remains Cautious About Title Contention
Heading into the Saudi Arabian GP, the fifth race of the season, Russell is 14 points behind championship leader Norris.
When asked about his title aspirations, Russell responded cautiously, `I would like to say yes, but realistically, no. McLaren is currently too dominant.`
`I believe Bahrain represented McLaren`s peak performance this week. China and Suzuka likely showed their car at its weakest, yet they still secured a victory in those races.`
`We need to consistently gather points and capitalize on opportunities. We seized an opportunity for P2 this weekend, similar to Melbourne where we achieved P3.`
`I don`t anticipate this to continue every race, but who knows.`
Wolff noted McLaren`s rapid improvement from last year, stating, `Looking at McLaren`s progress from last year, you can see how quickly things can change.`
`While we were a few tenths off the pace on Sunday, we must perform at our best and see how we fare on different circuits.`
Based on Sky Sports F1 report.
