P1racenews AI automatic summary:
It’s very early days, and Mercedes has so much to prove, according to the team Mercedes team principal.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff hopes that the bookmakers favoring George Russell for this season’s F1 title prove to be correct, despite issuing a cautionary warning. Russell has become the frontrunner in odds following Mercedes’ successful performance at the Barcelona shakedown, where he was second quickest behind Lewis Hamilton. The team completed a leading 502 trouble-free laps with Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Even though Russell is priced as the favorite with some bookmakers, Wolff highlighted that the best driver and car combination ultimately win. He emphasized the need to see performances confirming the competitiveness of their package before fully believing in their title chances.
