“So I think all in all, it’s been an exciting day. As I said, really glad and happy the cars and smaller,” Russell continued.
“Because even though I was such a fan we went to the big cars in 2017, visually, having driven them now for a few years – I think they were too big.”
Russell praises rival manufacturers
Inevitably, Russell was questioned about his confidence in the new Mercedes engine. In fairness to the Silver Arrows, they have tried to go under the radar since last season’s conclusion.
Unfortunately for them, this has done little to prevent an intense wave of hype surrounding their power unit. Their track record (namely when they took the grid by storm in 2014) played its part in creating this prevailing belief.
Still, there is more to the noise that relentlessly follows Mercedes. In terms of experience and infrastructure, they are better placed than any other manufacturer to capitalise on these new engines.
Other debuting manufacturers, like Audi and Red Bull, face a steeper learning curve than the German squad. Even established suppliers like Honda (who only committed to the 2026 regulations in 2023) have experienced hiccups.
Of course, George Russell had no interest in playing into this narrative.
When asked about his confidence in Mercedes power, he immediately pivoted to praising other manufacturers – starting with Red Bull:
“For sure, we’re very pleased with the day. But I was pretty impressed with a number of other teams, to be honest.
“You see the Red Bull-powered teams, a brand new power unit, they’re like a brand new team from the power unit side. And they’ve had a really smooth day with two cars.
“Audi had some good laps in there as well, Haas did the most laps of everyone with a Ferrari engine. So it’s not quite 2014 vibes of half the grid breaking down and having loads of issues.
“I think Formula 1 has evolved so much since then, and the level is just so high from every single aspect. I was really impressed to see all the teams, on the whole, having a lot of laps on the belt from day one.”
To some degree, Russell’s comments can be taken at face value. Red Bull Powertrains can indeed be satisfied with their Barcelona running, which went smoothly for the RB22.
The only hiccup for the Red Bull-powered cars was a midday stoppage for Liam Lawson. Crucially, the Kiwi has confirmed the issue which forced his VCARB 03 to a halt was not engine-related.
Ferrari power also enjoyed an efficient day of running, with Haas completing more laps than anyone else. Additionally, Russell is correct in his assessment that the grid is far more competitive than it was in 2024.
Nevertheless, the 27-year-old’s flattery (for now) won’t be enough to convince analysts that Mercedes aren’t the team to watch.
Main photo: Steve Etherington (Mercedes F1 Media Archive)
