P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has admitted he was surprised at the searing pace of McLaren and Ferrari during qualifying for the F1 Miami GP Sprint.
George Russell was taken aback by the impressive speed displayed by McLaren and Ferrari during Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix Sprint qualifying. He needed to catch up to his teammate Kimi Antonelli after his previous wins, but was faced with new power unit regulations in Miami. While Mercedes had only two upgrades for the weekend, McLaren and Ferrari introduced seven and eleven upgrades respectively, resulting in significant performance gains. Russell, struggling to keep up with his Mercedes, acknowledged the unexpected strength of McLaren and Ferrari, with Lando Norris securing pole position. Despite his disappointment, Russell expressed his dislike for the Miami track due to its challenging conditions. He highlighted issues with overheating tires and car balance, emphasizing the progress made by his competitors. Now, Russell must focus on making the most of the Sprint race to salvage his weekend and regain lost ground.
