George Russell has warned the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a “reality check” for Mercedes despite Toto Wolff’s optimism. The former Williams driver claimed the Silver Arrows still “only performs in a very narrow window” as they struggled to match the pace of the frontrunners.
Team principal Toto Wolff was more positive after the race as he stressed the German manufacturer will be “back” ahead of 2023. Mercedes had challenged for race wins at the United States and Mexican Grands Prix before Russell clinched the top spot in Sao Paulo.
The team appeared competitive on Friday but struggled in the cooler nighttime conditions on Saturday and Sunday. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Russell said: “This weekend was important for us. We had highs in Brazil and Mexico but it is clear that our car only performs in a very narrow window.
“This was probably a little bit of a reality check for us.”
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“It made us feel how good it can be and now we’re just pushing forward for next year. It’s raw, it’s bad and it’s okay to feel like this but next year we are back.” Ahead of the race, Wolff also raised concerns about the car’s operating window as he confirmed they would lack pace in the cooler conditions.
He added: “We had a really competitive car when it was hot. I am not sure it is going to be good in the evening because it is much colder.” Carlos Sainz’s P4 drops the Briton down to sixth in the Drivers’ Championship making this the seven-time champion’s worst-ever season in the sport.
Hamilton’s run of securing a victory in every season he has competed in F1 has also come to an end.
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