Formula 1 Driver George Russell Slams Mercedes’ Performance in Imola GP

George Russell, the British racing driver for Mercedes, delivered a scathing critique of his team’s performance at the F1 Imola Grand Prix, labeling their speed as “dead slow.” Despite finishing seventh, Russell expressed that they were fortunate to achieve such a position.

Heat-Related Performance Issues Plague Mercedes and Russell

The rising temperatures during the race seemed to exacerbate the team’s struggles, with Russell admitting that heat has been causing them trouble since last season – an issue they have yet to resolve. When questioned about the weekend’s performance, Russell dismissed it as bad luck, stating, “We were definitely not [with] bad luck, we were just dead slow.

The trend of poor performance in hot conditions is concerning for both Russell and Mercedes, as they have been unable to find a solution despite adjusting their setup. Russell explained that the team has been trying various set-up options to address the issue but has yet to identify a fundamental problem within the car.

In an interview with Sky Sports F1, Russell elaborated on his discomfort during the race, reporting issues with the car on his reconnaissance lap to the grid. However, the team could not pinpoint the source of the problem. Russell added that they experienced a similar issue circuit-to-circuit, with either the fronts or rears overheating.

Despite these challenges, Russell and Mercedes have managed to secure decent results on occasion. However, at Imola, they were fortunate to finish in seventh place, according to Russell. He concluded by saying, “Today, we were very lucky to finish P7, in all honesty.