Mercedes Working to Improve Race Starts, Says Russell

According to George Russell, the Mercedes team is putting in significant effort to enhance their race starts, a crucial area for improvement as they prepare for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix in May. 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. Although their starts have been a weakness, the team has demonstrated sufficient pace to recover and secure wins in the first three races. Ferrari has shown exceptional starting skills this season, thanks to their compact turbo, which enables quicker spin-up times and easier launch optimization. Russell emphasized that while direct practice of race starts is limited, the team is focusing on data analysis to address this significant flaw. In an interview with Sky Germany during Pirelli tire testing in Germany, Russell stated, "A tremendous amount is happening behind the scenes." He added that the team utilizes simulator days to analyze the initial three races and prepare for the upcoming events. With two sprint races scheduled for Miami and Montreal upon their return, the team is working diligently to improve, acknowledging the challenges posed by the sport's limited practice opportunities.