P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell says Mercedes must strive to understand the surprise pace that saw it take a 1-2 in the second
Mercedes was pleased with the performance of its revised 2024 car following encouraging signs from pre-season testing, as both drivers noted it was an improvement over its predecessor. Despite the positive feedback, Russell emphasized that a compliant car does not necessarily translate to a fast car. In practice, under twilight conditions, Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets ahead of Russell, but Mercedes remains cautious, acknowledging Max Verstappen’s superior race pace. Russell noted that while the qualifying pace looked strong, understanding and improving long run performance is crucial for race day success. Both drivers echoed the sentiment that Mercedes has work to do in order to challenge Red Bull for podium contention in the upcoming race.
