P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Russell: Mercedes made "big step forward" with F1 qualifying pace
Charles Leclerc was not able to repeat his Q2 performance, allowing Max Verstappen to secure pole position. George Russell led the Mercedes team in third place. Verstappen set a time of 1m29.179s, with Russell finishing 0.306s behind. Lewis Hamilton will start from ninth position. Russell praised the team’s progress in qualifying, crediting work done in the simulator by drivers like Frederik Vesti, Mick Schumacher, and Anthony Davidson. He expressed confidence in the car’s single-lap pace but acknowledged the competition, particularly from Verstappen. Despite feeling more comfortable in the new W15, Russell recognized the gap to Red Bull and the challenge they pose. He sees the race shaping up as a battle for second place, with hopes for an unpredictable outcome.
