P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Russell “extremely confident” Mercedes won’t ‘trip up’ in Red Bull pursuit
Mercedes is making significant design changes to their 2024 car to address the performance issues that have affected their previous models. Despite a strong qualifying performance in Qatar, both Russell and Hamilton were still half a second behind Verstappen’s Red Bull. Russell believes that Mercedes can bridge the performance gap to Red Bull during the winter break, citing improvements in the car’s aerodynamics. Hamilton also expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to deliver a competitive car for next year. However, both drivers acknowledged the uncertainty of Red Bull’s progress and emphasized the importance of focusing on their own performance. Verstappen remained tight-lipped about Red Bull’s gains and preferred to stay focused on the present.
Source: Crash
