Mercedes Intensifies Efforts to Enhance Race Starts

According to George Russell, the Mercedes team is putting in considerable effort behind the scenes to improve their performance in race starts, ahead of the Formula 1 season's resumption in Miami. Despite achieving four front row lockouts in the initial three Grands Prix and Sprint, neither Russell nor his teammate has managed to take the lead after the first lap. The team's biggest weakness lies in their starts, but they have demonstrated sufficient pace to recover and win the first three races. Ferrari has shown exceptional starting prowess this season, attributed to their compact turbo, which enables quicker spin-up times and facilitates finding the ideal launch window. Drivers have limited opportunities to practice starts, restricted to the end of free practice sessions during a Grand Prix weekend. Russell emphasized that while practice chances are scarce, the team is focusing on analyzing data to address their significant flaw. In an interview with Sky Germany during Pirelli tire testing at the Nürburgring, Russell stated that a substantial amount of work is being done behind the scenes. He noted that the team is utilizing simulator days to analyze the first three races and prepare for the upcoming events, including the Miami and Montreal sprint races. Although they are not permitted to practice starts during tire testing, the team is dedicated to working diligently to improve their performance.