Russell confident Mercedes can challenge for Spanish GP victory

Mercedes primed for Spanish GP challenge

Barcelona, Spain — George Russell believes Mercedes is poised to contest for victory against Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix, as the team makes significant strides in performance.

Starting on the second row alongside teammate Lewis Hamilton, Russell delivered a qualifying result that places Mercedes in a competitive position. The drivers finished just over 0.3 seconds behind Norris' pole-setting time, with Russell narrowly missing out on Hamilton’s time by a mere two milliseconds.

"Two milliseconds is the biggest gap I've had at the last four races to the driver around me, so it's crazy to think that," Russell remarked after qualifying. "I'm taking the positives, as a team we're in the mix, Lando did a really great lap, I don't think Lewis and I kind of really put it together perfectly, I felt like there was maybe two tenths on the table, not the gap we saw to pole, but nevertheless we're P3, P4 and in a great place to fight for a win tomorrow."

This performance marks a significant boost for Mercedes, underscoring the effectiveness of their latest upgrades. Following a promising outing in Canada that saw Russell secure pole position, Spain was anticipated as a key test for the new package.

Hamilton shared Russell's enthusiasm, reflecting positively on the result. "It's good to be back up here. I miss being on this sofa," Hamilton commented, highlighting the sense of progress within the team.

Both drivers acknowledged the need for cleaner qualifying laps but remained optimistic. Mercedes’ standing ahead of both Ferraris offers additional reassurance of their upward trajectory.

"Generally it's great to see we are progressing," Hamilton stated. "Really you've seen over the last couple of races that we're slowly climbing closer to the guys up front. I think there was a little bit more performance in the car today but it was really on the knife edge and so we've got some improvements to make to the car. But as I said, I'm really happy to be here. P3 is a pretty good place to be in for the start with that long run down to Turn one."

Echoing Hamilton's sentiments, Russell expressed confidence in the car’s development. "Well, you never know 100%, but this is for sure the most confident we have been over the last three years of what we've brought to the car, and it's natural as well," he explained. "We're all gaining experience and we're all three years into these regs [regulations], and we all know what makes a good race car in this sort of era."

With a tightly contested field among the top four teams, the upcoming races promise marginal differences that could significantly alter grid positions, echoing the competitive essence of Formula 1. Mercedes stands poised to capitalize on their advancements as they vie for the top spot in Spain.

Up Next

• Lando Norris secures pole in Barcelona after McLaren fire evacuation
• McLaren hospitality evacuated after suspected electrical fire at Circuit de Catalunya

Season-Defining Headlines