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George Russell is hoping that Mercedes can return to its former glory in 2024 following two difficult seasons for the
After joining the Mercedes team in 2022, George Russell has achieved significant success, including nine podium finishes and his first Formula 1 victory at the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. However, Mercedes’ dominance ended that year, and their performance has declined. This decline has been attributed to the failed ‘zeropod’ philosophy, which was abandoned in 2023. While Mercedes has seen improved performance since then, the reintroduction of sidepods has not solved all the issues faced by the W14 car in the inconsistent 2023 season. Russell believes that the team rushed certain decisions without thorough testing and evaluation, leading to a car that was far from their desired performance level. The struggles experienced by both Russell and Lewis Hamilton in the W14 car were evident during the recent Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where both drivers faced performance drops and technical issues. As a result, Mercedes plans to develop a completely new concept for their next car, the W15, in hopes of returning to their former dominance. Russell is confident that the team has learned from their mistakes and has a clear direction for the future, but acknowledges that having the fastest car on the grid is not guaranteed. Nonetheless, he believes the team will not stumble at the first hurdle.
Forrás: Motorsport Week
