Mercedes driver George Russell has voiced worries about fundamental, “baked in” problems affecting the team`s car following a difficult performance at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Finishing seventh at Imola marked his lowest result of the season so far. He had started the race from third place on the grid but fell back.
While a less-than-ideal strategy and unfortunate timing of a Virtual Safety Car incident played a role in the final outcome, Russell felt the primary issue was a general lack of pace, particularly in the warm Italian weather conditions.
He pointed out a clear pattern: the car performs well when it`s cold but struggles significantly when temperatures are high. He noted that this trend was also apparent during the previous season.
Despite trying various adjustments to the car`s setup to find solutions, Russell believes the problem is more deeply rooted in the car`s design, describing it as clearly “fundamental.”
Currently fourth in the drivers` championship, Russell had previously managed to secure four podium finishes in the six races before Imola, often overcoming the car`s inherent pace deficit compared to competitors like McLaren and sometimes even Red Bull.
He admitted that his seventh-place finish at Imola was largely down to luck, considering their actual speed during the race.
Mercedes holds second place in the Constructors` Championship, although they are a considerable 132 points behind McLaren. This position has been achieved despite the team`s ongoing pace struggles, even as other rivals have also faced their own challenges.
Last season, Mercedes` performance was notably better in cooler climates, and they often found it difficult to compete with the leading teams at warmer venues.
New front suspension and wing upgrades brought to Imola had generated some optimism within the team beforehand, but they did not appear to deliver the expected improvement during the event.
Russell stated that while they aren`t entirely without ideas for managing the tires, the core issue seems inherent to the car itself. He drew a comparison to Ferrari`s past experience, where they had inconsistent pace between qualifying and races, a shift they didn`t fully understand either.
He stressed the urgent need for Mercedes to find a better balance, especially as the season heads into the warmer summer months. The current car characteristics do not suit hot conditions well, and the team needs to find solutions rapidly.
Gilbert Pendleton