Mercedes Making Progress on Race Starts Behind the Scenes

According to George Russell, the Mercedes team is diligently working to enhance their race starts ahead of the upcoming Formula 1 season in Miami. Despite achieving four front row lockouts in the first three Grands Prix and Sprint, neither Russell nor his teammate has managed to take the lead after the opening lap. The team's biggest weakness lies in their starts, but they have demonstrated sufficient pace to bounce back and secure wins in the initial three races. Ferrari, on the other hand, has excelled in starts this season, attributed to their compact turbo, which allows for quicker spin-up and an easier launch. Russell emphasized that although opportunities to practice starts are limited, the team has been focusing on data analysis to address their flaw. In an interview with Sky Germany during Pirelli tire testing in Germany, Russell stated that a significant amount of work is being done behind the scenes, including simulator analysis and data review, to improve their starts. With the return of the Formula 1 season approaching, Mercedes is gearing up to tackle their weakness and make a strong comeback.