The Mercedes drivers have the front row all to themselves for the sprint race in China. George Russell took pole position, with teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli right behind him. Team principal Toto Wolff is satisfied with the result, but warns of an internal battle between the experienced Brit and the young Italian. “It’s sometimes a toss-up who is fastest,” Wolff explained.
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Although George Russell has a lead of six tenths over number three Lando Norris, Wolff remains realistic. “It is of course nice to achieve such a result on Friday, but the Grand Prix on Sunday is what really counts. This is just the icing on the cake,” Wolff said in the paddock in Shanghai.
‘Not dreaming about it yet’
Not only did Russell impress, but Andrea Kimi Antonelli was also right there. The difference between the two Mercedes drivers is less than three tenths. “They are very close to each other, although I haven’t fully looked at the data yet. George obviously has some extra experience, but it’s sometimes a toss-up who is fastest,” said the Mercedes team principal.
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The fact that both drivers are so close to each other could become a challenge for Mercedes. An internal battle could arise, but according to Wolff, that is ‘a luxury problem’. “We have to manage that well and understand that both drivers ultimately want to fight for the world championship,” the Austrian indicated. However, Wolff does not want to look too far ahead to a possible title fight yet, as the season is still long. “We don’t want to dream about that yet. First, we have to ensure that we continue to deliver a good car and that they don’t get in each other’s way on the track. After that, we’ll see where the season takes us.”
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