The current situation at Mercedes is such that a race in which Russell and Hamilton finished fifth and seventh, respectively, is considered a positive result. This comes after the team introduced the second part of a car update that began in Miami.
Russell went even further, stating that his race was the best of the season. He managed to fend off attacks from Max Verstappen with newer tires towards the end of the 78-lap race.
In the Mercedes team report, Russell added that despite being on medium tires for 70 laps, they had good pace and were able to close in on the top four at the end of the race. He expressed satisfaction with the strategic options discussed in the morning and the fact that most drivers ahead were on medium tires. However, the red flag during the race made things more challenging. Russell was able to keep his tires in good condition and handle Verstappen’s pressure in a controlled manner.
As Russell mentioned, the team constantly communicated with him over the radio, asking him to slow down and preserve the tires throughout the race. This approach was adopted by most drivers on the grid, resulting in a race without major incidents. Hamilton expressed frustration with the lack of opportunities to move forward after the red flag.
Regarding Mercedes’ performance, Hamilton noted there are encouraging signs. The team has been working hard to bring updates to the car, with more to come in the upcoming races. Hamilton believes that if they continue to progress, they could potentially challenge the three teams ahead of them.
The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, summed up his team’s performance in Monaco, stating that they had a successful weekend. They were much closer in Qualifying compared to previous races and showed strong pace throughout the race. Despite the red flag on the first lap, limiting their strategic options, they made the decision to switch to medium tires. Both George and Lewis effectively managed the tires, with Lewis securing the fastest lap point after a pit stop.
Wolff emphasized that the team’s progress is heading in the right direction. They have identified areas where they need to improve the car’s balance and have planned updates to address these concerns. Although they anticipate that performance may vary depending on the circuit, Wolff expressed overall satisfaction with the team’s development direction. He is looking forward to seeing how they perform in Canada.
Mercedes remains in fourth place in the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship, behind McLaren in third by 88 points. In the drivers’ standings, Russell currently holds seventh place, with a 12-point advantage over Hamilton in eighth.
