Despite winning the Australian GP and leading the Formula 1 championship for the first time, George Russell stated that Mercedes did not deliver its best performance over the weekend in Melbourne.
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“Honestly, it feels like just another race win. We are in the first race of a long season. Of course, I want to fight for wins every weekend, but we are all here to compete for the championship title, and that is what we have been working hard on,” the Briton stated.
Russell pointed out that the team ‘let their guard down’ at some important moments, especially at the start of the race and in battery management: “There were many areas where we didn’t reach our potential, mainly at the start, in battery usage, and we were lucky it wasn’t worse,” he said.
The driver also highlighted how the energy usage strategy has become decisive with the new power units: “There is definitely more opportunity and you need to be more strategic. On a circuit like this, with four straights, you have to split the battery energy. Some teams apply more on one straight, others on another. Using overtake mode allows you to pass on the straight, but the other can pass back,” he added.
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Russell concluded by recalling the tension of the battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc: “It was risky for both of us, but I hope you enjoyed it,” he added.
The Briton’s analysis makes it clear that, despite Mercedes’ initial dominance, the team recognizes that there are strategic and technical adjustments to be made throughout the season to maintain competitiveness and perhaps, the championship lead.
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