The German producer has endured a bruising begin to the 2024 season, with it but to complete on the rostrum and at the moment mendacity in fourth within the constructors’ championship – only one level forward of Aston Martin.
However whereas on paper its state of affairs doesn’t look promising, Russell thinks that Mercedes’ destiny has been exacerbated by tiny parts – and a comparatively minor uplift in tempo would change it dramatically.
“I believe small issues make a giant distinction to the general outcome,” stated Russell forward of the Chinese language Grand Prix.
“I believe an additional tenth or two in qualifying and you might be 4 positions larger on the grid. We would not [in Japan] have then made the daring alternative of beginning on the onerous, which, with the data we had on the time, was completely the right determination. The race would have panned out very, very in another way.
“We’re in a battle of effective margins proper now. We have been on the incorrect finish of that for the previous few race weekends, at two circuits that I do not suppose actually swimsuit the traits of that automotive.”
With the Mercedes W15 struggling in opposition to the opposition in high-speed corners, its weak point has been uncovered at latest venues like Jeddah, Australia and Suzuka.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Staff
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
That’s the reason Russell sees this weekend’s Chinese language GP as maybe a greater indicator of Mercedes’ potential, with its profile being extra geared in direction of medium- and low-speed corners.
“I believe this can be a extremely good check this weekend to see the place we do fall out, in comparison with McLaren as nicely,” he defined.
“They appear to be exceptionally robust within the high-speed corners and a bit weak within the low-speed corners. There may be much more potential to be proven. I do not suppose we now have optimised the automotive and its set-up within the final couple of races. That is what we’re homing in on.”
Staff-mate Lewis Hamilton stated Mercedes wouldn’t be working any upgrades in Shanghai this weekend however was carrying ahead some vital set-up classes that it uncovered in Japan.
“Nothing has modified with our automotive, so it is going to be the identical automotive this weekend,” he stated. “However we perceive it just a little bit extra.
“Wanting on the final weekend, we did make enhancements. So, if we may return, we might have accomplished issues in another way, and that’s the good thing about hindsight and expertise.
“We’ll try to deliver that right here this weekend and see if we will implement a few of these adjustments that we might have maybe accomplished additional in Suzuka. Hopefully that may discover us a little bit of efficiency.”