George Russell sees a changed hierarchy of the Formula 1 teams after Zandvoort. According to the Brit, Mercedes is no longer the team to beat, but the Silver Arrows have now passed that baton to McLaren. “To be honest, we just don’t know what our chances are,” Russell already looks ahead to the race in Monza.
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With two wins in a row, the momentum currently seems to lie with Lando Norris and McLaren. The Brit was more than eleven seconds ahead of his rivals at the finish line in Zandvoort. Norris’s success comes after McLaren had brought a significant upgrade package to Hungary. George Russell – still the favorite for the title before the season – could barely keep Lewis Hamilton behind him in the battle for third place in the Dutch dunes.
However, Russell hopes that Mercedes can mix more in the fight for wins again in Monza. “I think we will be a bit more competitive there,” the Brit told the media. Still, Russell immediately added a caveat. “However, I have the feeling that Ferrari has an engine upgrade in store. To be honest, we just don’t know what our chances are.”
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‘McLaren is the team to beat’
However, the Mercedes driver is not only keeping an eye on the home heroes in Monza; he will also watch McLaren. “I am convinced that these circuits with high tire wear suit McLaren very well, and especially Lando,” he said. “He has always been a bit of a specialist in those conditions. We saw that last year as well. Monza may be a bit different, but I think they are currently the team to beat.”
Russell aligns himself with the words of former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg. The German also labeled the papayas as ‘the team to beat’ after Zandvoort: “Lando really flew around the circuit there,” he told Sky Sports F1. “That speed was incredible. Mercedes will now be worried about this pace from McLaren.”
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