Mercedes faced a challenging 2023 season, with the W14 proving to be unpredictable and both drivers struggling to consistently perform. Despite the disappointments, George Russell is optimistic about the upcoming pre-season, acknowledging Mercedes’ efforts to comprehend necessary changes for the W15’s development.
In reflecting on 2023, Russell expressed confidence in the team’s progress, citing a more thorough understanding of the car’s dynamics compared to the previous year. He emphasized that the rushed approach in 2022 led to unforeseen challenges when the car hit the track. Despite making some advancements, the outcomes were not as expected, prompting a reevaluation of their strategies.
Russell acknowledged the significant gap that needs to be closed, especially given Red Bull’s unprecedented dominance in 2023. However, he approaches the upcoming season with an open mind and a belief that lessons learned from the past year will prevent them from repeating mistakes. While he doesn’t anticipate an immediate leap in performance for Mercedes, he remains confident that they won’t fall into the same pitfalls experienced in 2023 by being more methodical in their development process.