GEORGE RUSSELL is UNHAPPY with Mercedes’ new car and is concerned about the limitations on speed.
Lewis Hamilton recorded the fastest lap around Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during three days of testing with Russell second, but he does not think that is a true reflection of the car’s performance because of the tyres used.
George Russell has some concerns with Mercedes’ new car
Mercedes finished first and second on the timesheet
Red Bull finished third and fourth on slower tyres
Russell was impressed by Ferrari in Barcelona
The Brit, who is embarking on his debut season with Mercedes, also thinks rivals Ferrari and McLaren are looking impressive, despite the latter coming in at 10th and 11th on the timesheet.
Russell told Sky Sports: “Lap time wise I don’t think is representative at all.
“We were on the softest compound of tyres, and the C5 is a very strong tyre around this track, so even though we were on the top of the timesheet I wouldn’t read too much into it.
“I think the McLaren and the Ferrari are looking incredibly strong and I think we’ve got some improvements to be made, as we’re not fully happy with the balance of the car and the limitations we have currently.”
The Mercedes pair finished top of the standings and the only other driver who used C5 tyres, Aston Martin’s Sebastien Vettel, finished fifth.
That suggests Mercedes were boosted by their choice of tyre with Red Bull not far behind in third and fourth place.
In fact, world champion Max Verstappen finished narrowly behind the Mercedes duo in fourth place yet used medium tyres – a hint that Red Bull’s car may be performing better overall.
There is also cause for optimism for both McLaren and Ferrari – both teams completed more than 100 laps which suggests there are not any reliability issues with their respective cars.
The official testing at Bahrain next month will provide a better indication of the shape the new cars are in, with the three days in Barcelona seen as more of a ‘shakedown’.
McLaren also looked strong in testing
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