George Russell believes that consistent speeds when cornering at the Monaco Grand Prix may hide a significant problem that Mercedes is facing with their 2024 Formula 1 car. Mercedes has had a disappointing start to the season, with Russell and his teammate Lewis Hamilton failing to reach the podium in the first seven races. The German team has been dealing with issues that plagued their previous car, but the W15 has proven difficult to optimize. However, Russell is hopeful that the various low-speed corners in Monte Carlo will help Mercedes overcome the balance issues they have been facing. He stated: “Throughout the season, we have struggled to find the right balance between high and low speeds. Either the car performs well in low-speed corners and struggles in high-speed corners, or it’s the other way around. So, we are optimistic that consistent speeds in the corners of this circuit will make us more competitive.”
Russell is confident that the recent updates implemented by Mercedes in Miami and Imola have improved the car and reduced the gap to other teams. He emphasized: “The balance of the car has definitely improved throughout the lap. Initially, we struggled to find the right balance between high and low-speed corners, but we have made progress. When comparing the gap to Red Bull and the rest of the midfield, we have moved forward. However, it is important to recognize that Ferrari and McLaren have also made progress at a similar rate. So, we need to keep working hard and bringing more updates to the car. The whole team is working at full capacity to introduce these updates as quickly as possible.”
To take advantage of any potential opportunities in Monaco, Russell warned that Mercedes must be prepared to adapt to the constantly changing track conditions throughout the weekend. He explained: “Monaco is an incredibly challenging circuit and there are many disruptions throughout the whole weekend. It is crucial to find the perfect setup. The track evolves significantly, getting faster with each lap. In qualifying, it can be up to three seconds faster than in the first practice session. So, even if we have a good Friday, we need to be ready to adjust our approach on Saturday. Today, for example, I was in an engineering meeting and it was sunny, but when I left, it was raining. This unpredictability can add some excitement to the race.”
