Mercedes F1 Aims to Rebound After Challenging Rounds at Imola and Monaco
George Russell expresses his disappointment with Mercedes F1’s recent performance struggles, particularly highlighting the mechanical issues that disrupted their momentum during the Monaco Grand Prix. The Briton admits that the team was finally beginning to find its rhythm during qualifying, only for setbacks to occur.
“It’s truly frustrating because we seemed to be losing ground throughout the Monaco weekend, but we managed to revert to familiar settings in Q1, which allowed us to re-enter the top four. That’s been a consistent pattern for us on Saturday afternoons this season, so it’s a real shame,” Russell explained.
Following a series of setbacks, Mercedes has now scored only six points across the last two races, losing ground to rivals like Red Bull and Ferrari. Despite these hurdles, Russell remains optimistic about a turnaround, dismissing recent regulation changes-such as the new front wing flexibility directive-as a major factor in their struggles.
“It’s clear that the last two races haven’t gone our way,” he said. “Up until Imola, we consistently finished in the top five during qualifying and races. We’re eager to regain our usual form and aim for a clean weekend. The modifications to the front wing will require some adjustment from all teams, but I don’t expect it to drastically alter the competitive order.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, Russell is confident that Mercedes will bounce back, especially in the warmer conditions expected in Barcelona. He remains committed to fighting for a top-five finish, emphasizing that there’s no reason to believe their performance won’t improve.
“As I’ve said, before Imola, we were consistently in the top five. The race at Imola was an anomaly, and Monaco was affected by factors beyond our control. I see no reason why we can’t be back in the top tier,” he asserted.
While acknowledging that the team’s race pace in hot conditions is slightly behind that of McLaren, Russell notes that the current race weekend’s tire choices-using the hardest compounds-could help mitigate some of these issues. He points out that previous difficulties at Imola and Jeddah were linked to softer tires, so the shift to harder compounds might offer a strategic advantage.
Meanwhile, young driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has also faced challenges recently but is relieved that the softer tires, which caused issues earlier in the season, are not part of the current tire selection for this race. He reflects on the rapid pace of the season so far, noting that the ninth race has come quickly and that maintaining consistency remains a key focus.
“The first half of the season has flown by-it’s incredible to think we’re already at race nine,” Antonelli remarked. “There have been many highs and lows, but now it’s about stabilizing performance and stringing everything together.”
He admits that recent weekends haven’t been his best, partly due to difficulties with the new C6 compound, but expresses optimism about returning to more familiar tire choices and regaining the rhythm seen before Imola.
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