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George Russell was downbeat after recording his worst-finish of the 2024 season in the Miami Grand Prix.
George Russell has informed Mercedes to brace for a challenging period ahead as the team grapples with issues related to the performance of its W15 car. The team struggled to score points in the Miami sprint race, starting from 11th and 12th positions, although they advanced to the fourth row for the main race. Despite Lewis Hamilton climbing to sixth place during the race and engaging in a competitive battle with Sergio Perez, both drivers acknowledged the need for significant improvements to the car. Mercedes is currently experiencing its worst start to a season since 2012, with 64 points after six rounds but no podium finishes yet. Russell expressed realism about the team’s upcoming races, conceding that it may be a painful process. Despite upcoming changes, he acknowledged that immediate transformation into frontrunners is unlikely.
Russell referenced McLaren’s victory in Miami last year after starting from P17 and P18, underscoring the potential success when everything aligns correctly, which is currently lacking for Mercedes. The team aims to address its shortcomings swiftly, but Russell indicated that the changes may not lead to immediate race-winning performance upgrades. Accepting their current standing as the fourth fastest team, Russell emphasized the need to compete for positions in the P5-P8 range regularly. In the latest race, Russell finished in eighth place, marking his worst result of the 2024 season, with the W15 lacking grip and pace throughout, resulting in a slower performance compared to Yuki Tsunoda’s RB car. Russell summed up the team’s situation as unpredictable, alternating between good and challenging days, with Miami resulting in a P8 finish. For the latest F1 news, race reviews, and opinions, subscribe to RacingNews365 on YouTube.
