P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell says Mercedes needs to get back to basics and simply add more downforce to its car to try an improve performance after a poor start to the season. Mercedes has scored a best finish o…
George Russell believes that Mercedes should focus on adding more downforce to their car in order to improve performance following a disappointing start to the season. Despite scoring a best finish of fifth place in the Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes is currently fourth in the constructors’ championship. Russell emphasizes the need for a simpler approach given the team’s changing car design philosophies over the past two years.
Russell stresses the importance of maximizing downforce and continuous performance upgrades, with upcoming improvements planned for the Miami race. He highlights the necessity to focus on basics such as wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics to enhance downforce. The British driver’s perspective is influenced by his experience at the Chinese Grand Prix, where he made setup changes that yielded similar performance outcomes.
Acknowledging Red Bull’s dominance, Russell underlines the significant gap Mercedes needs to close to compete with the leading teams. He emphasizes the fundamental role of downforce in Formula 1 performance and the continuous pursuit of improvement. Russell’s insights suggest a strategic shift towards prioritizing aerodynamic performance to enhance Mercedes’ competitiveness in the championship.
