P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes’ George Russell hopes he hasn’t compromised its race prospects for single-lap performance after he qualified third for Formula 1’s
Russell performed exceptionally well in the final effort to secure third place, while Hamilton finished six places behind despite being just two-tenths behind his teammate. Mercedes, seemingly struggling in pre-season testing, managed to secure a 1-2 finish in FP2 with Hamilton leading the way. Russell attributed the turnaround to some tweaks on the car that allowed him to start from the second row unexpectedly. The close competition among drivers, highlighted by a narrow gap between P2 and P8, promises an exciting race with battles for pole position and victory. As they anticipate the race, Russell remains cautious about potential vulnerabilities while Hamilton hopes their qualifying pace improvement doesn’t impact their race pace negatively. Despite the unexpected cooler temperatures in Bahrain, Russell denies that it favored Mercedes, noting their improved performance and readiness for the challenges ahead in the opening race of the season.
