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George Russell impressed F1 fans in the latest race by securing a podium finish in tough competition. The experienced Mercedes driver demonstrated that he has the potential for great things, though consistency still seems to be his missing piece.
The recent race has sparked optimism among fans, suggesting that things might be heading in the right direction for Russell and the team. The British driver is looking forward to upcoming races with high expectations, but there was one aspect of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that didn’t sit well with him. Despite his impressive performance, Russell remains critical of certain elements that he feels could be improved for better results in the future.
George Russell took a podium spot at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix thanks to a crash between Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez. After the race, he criticized F1 tire supplier Pirelli.
"The race was so strange. In the first half, we were 1.5 seconds slower than the fastest. In the last 20 laps, I was a second faster than Oscar and Charles, and three-tenths quicker than Max, Checo, and Carlos," said Russell.
George Russell is struggling to understand why changes in tires have such a big impact on the team, affecting not just them but others as well. He recognizes the inconsistency in certain parts of the race and how challenging it is to extract the maximum performance from the car when conditions keep shifting.
Despite his frustration, Russell knows he has to accept the situation as it is and keep working with what he’s got. His hope is for improvements and changes in future races that could bring more stability and better results.
"It's the same track, the same driver, the same car – we just switched from yellow to white tires. Honestly, it's pretty frustrating how much the change affects us. It’s not just Mercedes; it happens to every team and driver. One session you're fast, the next you're not. And the only thing that changes is the tires."
Russell called for serious discussions with Pirelli about the inconsistency of their tires. The 26-year-old Brit, George Russell, is not happy with Pirelli’s tire performance. He’s frustrated because, in some parts of the race, the team appears to be a dominant force with the potential to achieve great things, only to seem like a team with no real chance in the next moment.
Despite showing impressive form on multiple occasions, Russell can’t be fully satisfied with the direction things are heading, even with a solid result in the latest race. The inconsistency is a major concern for him, overshadowing the positives and leaving him disappointed with how things are unfolding.
"I don't think even the tire makers understand them. We need serious talks about what’s going on because we have 2,000 people working hard to deliver the fastest car. In one part of the race, we had a car ready to fight for the win, and in another part, we had a car that shouldn’t be in the points – and the only difference was the tires. That’s just not good enough."-he concluded.
Toto Wolff reacts
Toto Wolff reflected on Lewis Hamilton’s performance, which wasn’t great in this race. The Mercedes team principal pointed out that they had to change the engine, which had an impact on the outcome.
Wolff had expected the race to go in this direction due to the Baku track's characteristics. He also acknowledged the tire issues highlighted by George Russell previously.
Despite the challenges, Wolff sees this race as an important learning experience for the team moving forward. Although he’s used to dealing with such situations, he is confident that the team can learn from this and improve for the future.
"We decided to do the engine change here [in Azerbaijan]," Wolff told RacingNews365.
"We knew that it's going to be a race of misery, because it's so difficult to overtake in Baku, and that's what it was.
The moment you come closer, you overheat the tyres, and then you go backwards, and I think this is what happened to him. But lots to learn."
Mercedes needs to address many issues in the coming period if they want to regain their position as a leading team in F1. Currently, the German team is seen as falling behind Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari, and they must make important moves to turn things around.
Many believe that Mercedes is far from the top teams right now. They need to make crucial changes and improve their performance in the near future. Although they have shown flashes of brilliance in a few races, their overall inconsistency is a clear problem. The current situation isn’t working in their favor, and they need to find a way to consistently perform at a high level to reclaim their former dominance.
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