P1racenews AI automatic summary:
According to George Russell, Mercedes should have already secured second place in the F1 Constructors’ standings. Currently, Mercedes holds the position ahead of Ferrari, with only a 30-point gap between them in a season dominated by Red Bull. Both teams had a difficult weekend in Qatar, with Russell colliding with his teammate Lewis Hamilton at the opening corner, resulting in Hamilton’s retirement. Despite falling to the back of the pack, Russell managed to recover and finish fourth, ahead of Charles Leclerc, while Ferrari could only field one car due to a pre-race fuel leak. Russell himself has had a challenging season and is currently 49 points behind Hamilton in the Drivers’ standings. The battle for second place in the Constructors’ standings has been complicated by the emergence of McLaren as Red Bull’s closest rival. Russell believes that while second place is important, the focus should also be on next year’s car and ensuring a strong start to the next season.
Source: RacingNews 365
