Mercedes' George Russell optimistic for 2024: Vows no repeat of 2023 F1 mistakes

The Brackley-based team, traditionally dominant in the sport, faced their first winless campaign in over a decade as Red Bull seized control, claiming victory in 20 out of 21 races.

The setback prompted Mercedes to reassess their development strategy, steering away from the original concept that proved ineffective. Acknowledging the missteps, Russell affirmed that last season's car, the W14, offered a more comfortable driving experience despite the team finishing as the runner-up in the Constructors' Championship.

Reflecting on the difficulties, Russell shared, "Last year was definitely a trickier car to drive. But as if it was for many teams, we made some big improvements, but what has caught us out this year stemmed from the winter development. We took the wrong direction. We made some mistakes, and that was evident as soon as we hit the track in Bahrain.”

Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Russell exuded confidence in Mercedes' ability to rectify the issues that plagued them in the previous year. Expressing optimism, he stated, "Going into the third year now, I'm confident we're not going to make those same mistakes. I'm confident we've got some good gains over this winter; we're finding them at the moment. But at the end of the day, it's a relative game, and we don't know what our rivals are going to bring.”

As the current F1 season concludes, the motorsport world eagerly anticipates the 2024 campaign. Teams and drivers will enjoy a well-deserved break until the new year, with official F1 pre-season testing marking the beginning of the new season. Scheduled at the Bahrain International Circuit, the 5.412-kilometre track will host the testing sessions from February 23 to 25, setting the stage for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Mercedes, fuelled by Russell's confidence and a commitment to learning from past mistakes, aim to make a triumphant return to the front of the grid in 2024. The motorsport community eagerly await the unfolding narrative as teams unveil their developments and strategies, with the Bahrain pre-season testing providing the first glimpse of the competitive landscape for the upcoming season.

 

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