Winter testing – George Russell enthusiastic: “The W15 seems more pleasant to drive than last year's car”

Everything is going well for George Russell (Mercedes). The Briton was very smiling on the evening of the first day of winter testing in Bahrain, this Wednesday February 21.

The teammate of Lewis Hamilton completed 121 laps behind the wheel of the Mercedes W15, the second most of the day behind Max Verstappen (Red Bull). “It was great to drive the W15 for the first time. From the first laps, we had the impression of having a good starting point.

#F1 – A solid start into #F1Testing in Bahrain.🙌@ GeorgeRussell63 kept busy in the # W15 today, getting 122 laps in. 👊#WeLivePerformance #WorldsFastestFamily # MercedesAMGF1 #GR63 pic.twitter.com/5KPrbAy1lt

— Mercedes-AMG Motorsport (@amgmotorsport) February 21, 2024

We've done a lot of laps and we have a lot of data to analyze tonight. We ended the day in a reasonably satisfactory position. »

George Russell suggests that the Star brand will prioritize reliability and the sequence of relays, rather than the quest for pure performance. “ We will focus on the kilometers driven rather than finding a perfect car set-up. »

Comparing it to its predecessor, the W14, which failed to win a race, he added: “Overall, the W15 seems more enjoyable to drive than last year's car. »

George Russell went on to say that as winter testing continues in Sakhir, Mercedes will remain focused on its own efforts. “We are focused on ourselves during these tests, and only next week we will see where we stand compared to the others (during the Bahrain Grand Prix. Editor’s note). This first day has been positive and I can't wait to be back in the car on Friday. » On Thursday, Lewis Hamilton will make his comeback.

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