F1: George Russell not expecting Mercedes to win in Bahrain

1 year ago 86

George Russell says helium does not expect Mercedes to beryllium competing for triumph astatine the commencement of the Formula 1 play successful Bahrain adjacent week.

Russell said helium believed Red Bull were the squad to bushed connected the grounds of the archetypal 2 days of pre-season testing.

He said: "We decidedly judge yet we volition person a car susceptible of getting successful that fight.

"Whether we're going to person that adjacent play successful Bahrain, I deliberation whitethorn beryllium a spot of a stretch."

Russell said helium had been impressed watching the Red Bull retired connected way astatine the Sakhir circuit connected Thursday, erstwhile reigning champion Max Verstappen was fastest overall, and Friday.

"They look precise strong, precise stable," Russell said. "The car is looking truly beardown and evidently Max is performing truly well.

"So I deliberation realistically, it volition beryllium a agelong for adjacent week. But there's nary crushed wherefore yet we can't get determination astatine immoderate constituent this year, and we've ever seen the spot of Mercedes and their improvement rates. So yeah, definitely. My content is that."

Mercedes caput into 2023 disconnected the backmost of a hard twelvemonth that ended their tally of 8 consecutive constructors' titles since 2014.

They won lone 1 contention - with Russell astatine the penultimate expansive prix of the play successful Brazil - and finished 3rd down Red Bull and Ferrari.

But Russell said the squad were successful a amended spot than they were astatine the aforesaid constituent past year, erstwhile they discovered successful pre-season investigating that their car was severely afflicted with aerodynamic bouncing - oregon porpoising - that compromised their season.

"The introduction signifier (to the corner) has been improved," Russell said. "It's nary concealed erstwhile you're watching the onboards and videos that we are struggling a small spot with the balance, struggling a batch successful the mid corner.

"But I deliberation it's a equilibrium that is astir apt easier to lick than we had past year. So adjacent though it's inactive a limitation, I deliberation it's a bully occupation to have."

Team main Toto Wolff said that the "porpoising has gone, essentially", adding: "The car is retired of equilibrium this greeting and we conscionable didn't find the set-up for these blistery conditions."

Wolff said that rivals Red Bull and Ferrari were "fast - nary astonishment there" but helium said determination was "a feeling of excitement due to the fact that we got it incorrect past year".

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