P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has provided a positive debut assessment of Mercedes’ 2024 Formula 1 car, citing how it already “feels nicer
Mercedes has introduced a revamped concept on the W15 in an effort to close the gap to Red Bull after their winless F1 season in 2021. Technical Director James Allison aims to eliminate the “spiteful” rear-end characteristics and create a more driver-friendly car. Despite initially ranking 12th during pre-season testing in Bahrain, George Russell completed 121 laps and expressed satisfaction with the day’s progress. Russell praised the W15’s foundation and the team’s focus on maximizing learning and mileage over immediate performance gains. Mercedes decided to abandon the ‘zeropod’ solution from last season due to testing issues, with Russell noting improved comfort in this year’s car. Looking ahead, the team is determined to stick to its plan and prioritize continuous development during testing before assessing their competitiveness next week. Russell will cede the car to Lewis Hamilton for a day before resuming his testing duties on Friday, gearing up for the upcoming race at the same venue.
