P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell anticipates some “unexpected” results in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
George Russell believes that there could be surprising results in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying due to the unexpected speed of some midfield teams at Yas Marina Circuit. Russell highlighted Haas and Stake, who performed well in FP1 and FP2. Despite improving to third fastest in FP2, Russell expects tough competition from his teammate Kimi Antonelli, Red Bulls, and Ferrari drivers. Russell acknowledged that qualifying will likely be close between Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari, with potential surprises from other teams like Haas and Hulkenberg. While Russell felt better driving in cooler evening conditions, he expressed the need to improve race pace after struggling during FP2. Russell agreed that it’s challenging to optimize tire performance under changing night conditions, emphasizing the importance of avoiding mistakes for a competitive lap. Ultimately, Russell aims to find more speed overnight to enhance Mercedes’ performance for the race.
