P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The Mercedes driver believes Ferrari to hold an advantage in qualifying but is confident in its own race pace.
George Russell discussed the challenge Mercedes faces in competing with Ferrari at the Bahrain Grand Prix, describing the decision as “not easy.” Mercedes had a positive pre-season test in Sakhir, showing improvement from previous years with a stable W15 platform. Ferrari and Mercedes were closely matched in testing, both trailing Red Bull in rankings. Despite Ferrari’s strong qualifying performances, Mercedes typically excelled in races due to better tyre management. Russell highlighted the dilemma of limited testing time for Mercedes as they aim to start the new season strongly. The decision whether to focus on immediate race performance or continue testing for long-term gains is tough for the team.
