P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell believes Mercedes’ W17 feels far superior to the troubled W13 of 2022.
George Russell has shared that the 2026 Mercedes feels more like a race car than the ‘humiliation’ of the 2022 rule changes. Team principal Toto Wolff expressed his disappointment with the previous season after the W13 zero sidepod concept failed, leading to a drop in performance. Mercedes, with their strong history since the introduction of turbo hybrid units in 2014, are seen as the favorites for the F1 title in the new rules era, with Russell also a favorite for the drivers’ championship. Russell had a successful pre-season testing session in Barcelona, feeling at one with the new W17 car, which he finds more in line with what F1 should be. Despite positive initial impressions, he acknowledges it is still early days to determine if the car can compete for a world championship, as they await further developments and performance assessments.
