New Mercedes F1 car already ‘feels nicer’ to drive, says Russell

Having first run at a filming day in Bahrain earlier this week, Russell had unique use of the automotive for the opening day of pre-season testing on Wednesday in Bahrain.

Regardless of ending the day a low-key twelfth on the timesheets, 2.765 seconds adrift of the pacesetting Crimson Bull of Max Verstappen, Russell stated the preliminary suggestions from the automotive delivered some optimistic impressions.

Most encouraging of all was the truth that the brand new W15 has appeared to have removed the ‘spiteful’ rear finish nervousness that damage each him and Lewis Hamilton all through final season.

Talking on the finish of the day, Russell stated: “General, the W15 does really feel nicer to drive than final yr’s automotive. We all know that it is not in regards to the feeling, however the velocity. However, as we speak was about studying and never about chasing efficiency.

“We’re centered on ourselves at this take a look at, and it’ll solely be subsequent week the place we see the place we stack up in opposition to the others.”

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos

With 121 laps below his belt, second solely in mileage phrases to Verstappen, Russell felt that Mercedes had acquired itself off to the strong begin it wanted – particularly having elected to run a full race simulation within the night.

“From hitting the bottom, it felt like we had a very good basis to begin from,” he added. “We accomplished numerous laps and have loads of information to undergo tonight.

“We ended the day in a fairly great place, and we are able to construct from right here over the subsequent two days. We will probably be centered on maximising mileage for studying fairly than chasing an optimum candy spot with the automotive.”

Talking earlier within the day, Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff stated that nailing down a better-handling automotive had been a precedence over the winter.

“We had a automotive that was a handful and obscure generally why it was doing what it was doing,” he stated.

“I feel that has been the emphasis this for this season, to have a secure platform from which we are able to truly develop onwards. And let’s examine if we have now that.”