Mercedes F1 shows promise despite missing the podium at Suzuka, aiming to bounce back stronger at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Mercedes F1 narrowly missed the podium for the first time this season at Suzuka, but the team’s overall performance after the Japanese Grand Prix remains positive, with George Russell finishing in 5th place and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in 6th. Bradley Lord, filling in for Toto Wolff during the weekend, shared his thoughts on what was still a promising race.
“We’re leaving Japan with some solid points, but we feel there was potential for more this weekend,” said Lord. “Suzuka is a tricky circuit for overtaking, and this race proved that. George showed good pace compared to Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari early on, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the necessary speed to make a pass.”
“Being stuck in dirty air likely hurt his tires, and that meant he couldn’t push hard enough to execute the undercut strategy before his pit stop. The positive takeaway is that if we had qualified further up the grid and maintained the pace from qualifying, we could’ve fought for the podium.”
As for Kimi, Lord praised the progress the young driver has made: “Kimi took significant steps forward this weekend, gaining confidence on such a challenging circuit and securing a strong result. He also led his first laps in F1 and set his first fastest lap in a race, making him the youngest driver in history to achieve both milestones.”
“Kimi’s growth is exciting, and this marks his third solid consecutive performance. We’re now heading to Bahrain with the goal of fighting for the podium. The circuit is very abrasive, and it will be a good test of our progress with the W16.”
A Missed Opportunity
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ Director of Trackside Engineering, reflected on the team’s missed potential: “The race was a clear example of what could’ve gone better for us this weekend. We showed promising pace all weekend, but Suzuka is a track that heavily favors qualifying over the race. Having not optimized our session on Saturday, we knew it would be a tough challenge to move up from 5th and 6th.”
“We were keeping an eye on the weather on race day, but it ended up being a dry Grand Prix, limiting the opportunities. The other limiting factor was tire durability, which made the one-stop strategy a comfortable choice for most.”
“George spent a lot of time in the dirty air behind the Ferrari during his first stint, and we tried to undercut, coming close but ultimately missing out. He finished 5th, which was frustrating. Kimi, on the other hand, ran longer in his first stint and showed good pace in clear air. This allowed him not only to compensate for Lewis’ undercut but also to create a tire offset with those ahead of him. He took advantage of that to catch up to George in the final laps and set the fastest lap. It was another mature performance from Kimi, who continues to gain valuable experience.”
“Bahrain will be a very different challenge compared to the circuits we’ve raced on this season. The abrasive asphalt will be tough on the tires, and it will be a key indicator of how much progress we’ve made with our car since last year. We’re hopeful for a strong performance and to be back in the fight for the podium.”
- Explore Further>Will Jack Doohan Retain Alpine Seat After Bahrain?
- Follow us on >FACEBOOK and >TWITTERfor F1 updates
Russell and Antonelli Shine, But Podium Eludes Mercedes Russell and Antonelli Shine, But Podium Eludes Mercedes