George Russell, British driver of the Mercedes AMG F1 W15, discussed how the issues that Mercedes is facing are amplified during low fuel runs. In the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix, Russell qualified in ninth place. He was the slowest among the top teams’ drivers in Q3, finishing over two tenths of a second behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who secured a higher position. However, Russell was disappointed with a mistake he made in the middle sector of his final lap, which prevented him from improving his position. He believed that this error cost him several positions in the classification order.
Russell explained that before the qualifying session, a tight competition was expected between Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin, with only one tenth of a second separating them. However, in qualifying, a single lap can make a significant difference, resulting in a six-position gap. Russell was on a strong lap and was 2.5 tenths of a second faster than his previous time at Turn 11. He expected to finish four tenths of a second ahead, but made a small mistake that caused him to lose all the time he had gained. He expressed his disappointment with this missed opportunity.
Mercedes had anticipated difficulties at the Suzuka circuit due to their struggle with high-speed corners. This weekend, they were the fifth fastest team on a single lap. Russell explained that when the fuel is removed during qualifying, the corners become faster, which negatively affects their pace. He also noted that the calendar had consecutive high-speed circuits, further highlighting their weaknesses. If the season had started with circuits like Bahrain, Baku, and Singapore, Mercedes’ situation would be different.
Asked about Mercedes’ understanding of their challenges, Russell replied: “I believe so, we are currently taking more significant testing measures to address our high-speed performance.
“The car is performing well at low and medium speeds, but we are significantly lacking in high-speed performance compared to our observations at headquarters. Therefore, we need to fix this issue.
“When it comes to qualifying and fuel removal, speeds keep increasing, which poses a challenge for us. However, during the race, high-speed corners are approached approximately 30 km/h slower, making them more similar to medium-speed corners. It is crucial for us to understand this aspect.
“However, it is advantageous that these problems have been identified early in the season.”
However, Russell acknowledges that resolving the discrepancy between simulator data and competitiveness on the high-speed track is a separate challenge.
“We can see the problem in the data, but finding a solution is another matter. So far, we have tested the car with various aerodynamic specifications in the first four races.
“The latest specifications used in the past two weeks have shown a bit more consistency. However, something is still missing in terms of high-speed performance.
“It’s regrettable because I believe we could be much more competitive if we addressed this issue. In Bahrain, we qualified in third place and were on track for second place in the race before facing an engine issue. Only time will tell.”
Russell anticipates an intriguing race tomorrow due to the different tire strategies adopted by each team on one of the most tire-wearing tracks on the calendar.
“Tomorrow’s race will be fascinating to watch. Considering the remaining tire choices, we have two sets of hard tires and one set of medium tires. Ferrari and Red Bull, on the other hand, have only one set of hard tires. Fernando Alonso has one set of hard tires and one set of medium tires, meaning he will have to complete a stint on soft tires. As a result, there will be significant variation in tire strategies among the top 10 cars.”
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Portuguese:
New world record set in speed race
In an exciting competition held last weekend, a new world record was set in the speed race. Brazilian athlete, Carlos Silva, surprised everyone by completing the race in an impressive 9.58 seconds.
Silva’s feat left spectators speechless and athletics experts in awe. With his incredible speed, he surpassed the previous record by 0.11 seconds, showing exceptional performance.
The 25-year-old athlete, who has been training hard for years, dedicated his victory to his family and all the Brazilians who supported him throughout his journey. He expressed his gratitude and emotion upon receiving the gold medal and breaking a world record.
Silva is now recognized as one of the greatest runners of all time and his name will go down in sports history. His achievement inspires young athletes to pursue their dreams and believe in their potential.
The next international competition will be an even bigger test for Silva, as he will face some of the best runners in the world. However, with his determination and talent, it wouldn’t be surprising if he continued to surprise everyone and achieve more victories in the future.
Sprint racing is an exciting and adrenaline-filled sport. Athletics fans eagerly await the upcoming competitions, hoping to see more records being broken and amazing performances from the athletes.
This is just the beginning of Carlos Silva’s journey and we look forward to following his brilliant career and cheering for his future victories. Congratulations, Carlos Silva, for your incredible performance and for raising Brazil’s name in the world of athletics.
