Mercedes’ team principal, Toto Wolff praised George Russell’s impressive P2 finish at the F1 Azerbaijan GP. Mercedes’ strong pace throughout the weekend proved the team’s competitive potential on street circuits.
Russell’s recovery and race performance
George Russell‘s weekend began with serious doubts about his physical condition following illness. Wolff revealed how close Russell came to missing the weekend entirely before delivering a superb performance that showcased Mercedes’ strong pace throughout the demanding race distance.
Wolff called Russell’s performance “very impressive, considering that on Friday morning it was touch and go whether Valtteri [Bottas] would be in the car.”
The team principal highlighted Russell’s initial uncertainty about competing. “It was George [Russell] himself that said, ‘I’m not sure I can do it’. And then, you know, he recovered a little bit in the morning and decided to be in the car.”
Russell’s gradual improvement throughout the weekend impressed Wolff significantly. The British driver’s determination translated into flawless race execution that showcased Mercedes’ strong pace.
“And then every day he went strong. And then doing a one and a half hour race here in Baku, not putting a single foot wrong on both tyres. You know that was a super merited P2.”
Competitive gap to Verstappen shows Mercedes’ strong pace
When questioned about Russell’s potential against race winner Max Verstappen from a better starting position, Wolff remained measured but optimistic about their chances. The team’s analysis revealed encouraging data about their competitive position.
“It’s always a bit optimistic to say that he could have given Max a hard time. But our first analysis showed that we were within a tenth of Max in pure lap, in pure performance. I think, yeah, it would have been a race at the front, at least.”
Wolff acknowledged the uncertainty around victory chances while praising the car’s consistency. He also acknowledged how Mercedes’ strong pace was evident across the tyre compounds used during the race.
“Whether it would have been enough for a win, I don’t know. But the car was good on both tyres and his pace was impressive.”
Track characteristics enhance Mercedes’ strong pace
Wolff explained why Azerbaijan’s unique layout particularly suited Mercedes’ car characteristics beyond simple temperature considerations. The track’s demands aligned perfectly with the team’s package strengths, allowing Mercedes’ strong pace to flourish.
When asked if the pace is only a question of temperature or if there are other reasons, Wolff responded “I don’t think you can, you know, simplify like this. Because I’ve always said that when I wear a pullover, it’s a good day. But there were more difficult weekends in colder conditions.”
Wolff identified the circuit layout as the key factor behind their competitiveness, stating “Now, obviously, the track layout suits our car. There’s no lots of high-speed, mid-to-high-speed long corners, which are not our forte. So I think considering all of those variables, it was certain the track that suited us a bit more.”
Azerbaijan’s layout allowed Mercedes’ strong pace to shine without the challenges of high-speed cornering sequences. Russell’s P2 finish demonstrated the team’s potential when circuit characteristics favor their car philosophy.
