George Russell does not expect Mercedes to immediately compete for pole position in Hungary after Friday’s free practice sessions. The Brit finished both sessions in fifth place and sees that his team is still lacking speed. Although Russell is confident that Mercedes can take a step forward on Saturday, Ferrari in particular impresses him. “They look really strong,” said Russell.
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George Russell finished both the first and second free practice sessions in fifth place, but was far from satisfied with the feeling in the car. According to the Mercedes driver, the Mercedes did not feel as he wanted. “For Kimi and for me, the car felt far from great. We think there’s still a lot of gain to be made. It was quite windy and the wind also seems to be changing direction again. That can make a big difference on this circuit,” Russell told F1TV.
‘Completely different challenge’
Although Mercedes is still looking for the right setup for this weekend, Russell sees Ferrari as the biggest competitor. The Englishman notes that the Italian team has made a clear step in recent weeks and expects to see that speed in Budapest. “These power units are impressive on a short circuit like this. After every corner, you accelerate with 350 kilowatts, and that demands a lot from the rear tires. As a team, we still have work to do, especially now that Ferrari has made a step. I am confident that we can solve our problems. We already knew that the conditions here would be very different from last week. This weekend is simply a completely different challenge,” Russell concluded.
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For the German team, Friday also did not go according to plan. Kimi Antonelli only took part in the second free practice session, after test driver Frederik Vesti got behind the wheel for the first session. Due to the red flag after Franco Colapinto’s crash, the Italian could not set a fast lap and remained in thirteenth place. Despite the disappointing times, Russell remained confident and sees that the team can improve. “It was a strange day for everyone. The Hungaroring is fantastic to drive, although there are quite a few bumps due to the new asphalt. Our single-lap pace was not yet where we want it to be, but in the long runs, we looked more competitive. What we feared also seems to be true. Ferrari looks very strong at the moment,” said Russell.
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