P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Russell: Mercedes made "big step forward" with F1 qualifying pace
Charles Leclerc was unable to repeat his session-topping Q2 time, allowing Max Verstappen to secure pole position. Meanwhile, George Russell of Mercedes ended up third fastest on the grid. With a gap of 0.306s, Russell trailed behind Verstappen’s impressive time of 1m29.179s. Lewis Hamilton, Russell’s teammate, disappointingly qualified in ninth position. Russell praised the significant progress made by the Mercedes team in qualifying, crediting the hard work in the simulator. Despite feeling more comfortable in the new W15 compared to its predecessor, Russell acknowledged that catching up to Verstappen would be a challenge. Looking ahead to the race, Russell expressed optimism but recognized that Red Bull remains a strong competitor, with Max leading the charge.
