The German producer has endured a bruising begin to the 2024 season, with it but to complete on the rostrum and at the moment mendacity in fourth within the constructors’ championship – only one level forward of Aston Martin.
However whereas on paper its scenario doesn’t look promising, Russell thinks that Mercedes’ destiny has been exacerbated by tiny components – and a comparatively minor uplift in tempo would change it dramatically.
“I feel small issues make an enormous distinction to the general consequence,” stated Russell forward of the Chinese language Grand Prix.
“I feel an additional tenth or two in qualifying and you’re 4 positions greater on the grid. We would not [in Japan] have then made the daring selection of beginning on the laborious, which, with the knowledge we had on the time, was completely the proper resolution. The race would have panned out very, very otherwise.
“We’re in a battle of high-quality margins proper now. We have been on the flawed finish of that for the previous few race weekends, at two circuits that I do not assume actually go well with the traits of that automobile.”
With the Mercedes W15 struggling towards the opposition in high-speed corners, its weak spot has been uncovered at latest venues like Jeddah, Australia and Suzuka.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Workforce
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
That’s the reason Russell sees this weekend’s Chinese language GP as maybe a greater indicator of Mercedes’ potential, with its profile being extra geared in direction of medium- and low-speed corners.
“I feel this will likely be a extremely good check this weekend to see the place we do fall out, in comparison with McLaren as properly,” he defined.
“They appear to be exceptionally robust within the high-speed corners and a bit weak within the low-speed corners. There’s much more potential to be proven. I do not assume we’ve optimised the automobile and its set-up within the final couple of races. That is what we’re homing in on.”
Workforce-mate Lewis Hamilton stated Mercedes wouldn’t be working any upgrades in Shanghai this weekend however was carrying ahead some essential set-up classes that it uncovered in Japan.
“Nothing has modified with our automobile, so it is going to be the identical automobile this weekend,” he stated. “However we perceive it just a little bit extra.
“Wanting on the final weekend, we did make enhancements. So, if we might return, we might have executed issues otherwise, and that’s the advantage of hindsight and expertise.
“We’ll try to convey that right here this weekend and see if we are able to implement a few of these modifications that we might have maybe executed additional in Suzuka. Hopefully that may discover us a little bit of efficiency.”