P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has expressed that he is “frazzled” by the dramatic swing in performance that Mercedes experienced throughout the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Russell capitalised on Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz’s crash in the closing laps to pick up an unexpected podium in Baku with third place in the leading Mercedes car. The Briton, […]
“Russell capitalized on Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz’s crash in the closing laps to secure an unexpected podium in Baku, finishing third in the leading Mercedes car. Despite starting fifth and briefly losing out to Max Verstappen, Russell regained position in the second stint and was running a distant fifth before the incident occurred. While happy with the podium, Russell acknowledged Mercedes’ need to investigate why they struggled in the early stages of the race. The significant improvement in pace towards the end left Russell puzzled, as he emphasized the importance of understanding the performance fluctuations experienced on the Pirelli tyres. He highlighted Mercedes’ oscillation from borderline points-scoring speed to race-winning potential and attributed it to the tire sensitivity of the current-generation Pirellis. Russell mentioned the frustrating inconsistency in performance across different sessions and stints, linking it to the challenges faced by all teams on the grid due to tire behavior.”
