P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hamilton had suggested the duo had ‘veered off’ from each other set-up-wise at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
George Russell has refuted Lewis Hamilton’s assertion that the Mercedes team strayed from each other in terms of strategy during the Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite both Britons finishing fifth and seventh due to cooling issues, Russell qualified third while Hamilton was ninth, leading to speculation of diverging strategies. Russell stated that the cars were similar and he focused more on a race-oriented set-up, compared to Hamilton’s, which was more focused on single-lap pace. Although the Bahrain race was challenging due to cooling problems, Mercedes has made progress compared to previous seasons, giving Russell optimism for the future. He acknowledges Red Bull’s and Ferrari’s strength at the track but believes it’s too early to predict the championship outcome, with Max Verstappen being a strong favorite. Russell hopes for competitive battles and exciting races throughout the season.
