George Russell has disclosed that Mercedes have implemented numerous modifications to improve their race pace ahead of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The British driver, who secured fourth place on the grid, continues to show strong qualifying performances, although challenges remain for the team on race day, especially under high temperatures.
Strong qualifying boost but race pace remains an issue
Russell has demonstrated consistent top-five qualifying form throughout the 2024 season, with Monaco being the sole exception so far. At Barcelona, he achieved fourth on the grid once again. Despite these encouraging sessions, Mercedes has struggled to translate qualifying speed into competitive race pace, particularly when track temperatures soar.
Russell commented on the qualifying situation:
“We know that on a Saturday our car is anywhere between P2 and P5. That’s where it’s been all season and again today.”
He also highlighted the strategic advantage gained by efficient tyre management during qualifying:
“It’s good we managed to get into Q3 on only two sets of tyres so we have a new soft tyre for tomorrow which is a valid race tyre – that’s a positive. We know that the car isn’t quick on Sundays.”
—George Russell, F1 Driver
Mercedes applies extensive changes to improve Sunday performance
Facing ongoing difficulties on race day, Mercedes has introduced several changes to their car setup during the Spanish GP weekend with hopes of closing the race pace gap. Although these adjustments did not affect their qualifying speed, the team is optimistic about their impact during the race.
Russell expressed cautious optimism regarding the tyre compounds allocated by Pirelli this weekend, which consist of C3, C2, and C1 compounds—harder options that BelleMercedes hopes will benefit performance under hot conditions similar to Bahrain. He said:
Image of: George Russell
“I think so. We also made a lot of changes to the car this weekend to try and improve the race pace so to see that we haven’t really hindered quali pace is a positive but then also it may mean it’s not going to improve the race pace,”
—George Russell, F1 Driver
The British driver reflected on previous successes when using harder tyres in hot races, such as finishing second in Bahrain under similar circumstances. Russell noted the differences in tyre durability and heat sensitivity:
“When the tyres overheat by 10 degrees on a C4, it’s much more punishing than 10 degrees on a C1 tyre. That’s the only slight silver lining to give us a bit of hope for tomorrow.”
—George Russell, F1 Driver
Looking ahead: challenges and opportunities for Mercedes at Barcelona
With the forecast predicting high track temperatures for Sunday’s race, Mercedes faces a critical test to convert qualifying potential into strong race results. The car’s modifications and tyre strategy will be closely watched to see if the team can overcome their recent race day shortcomings. Russell’s continued form and the team’s developments offer cautious hope for improved competitiveness at the Spanish Grand Prix, which could influence upgrades and tactics throughout the remainder of the season.
