Mercedes F1 Team Shows Promise in Pre-Season Testing: Hamilton and Russell Optimistic
In the midst of pre-season testing for the 2024 Formula One season, Lewis Hamilton, the veteran driver for Mercedes, has lauded the team’s determination and communication as unparalleled during his tenure with the team.
Hamilton’s sentiments come as Mercedes showcased a strong performance during the testing sessions held in Bahrain, where their revamped W15 car completed an impressive 361 laps over three days of testing.
Despite concluding the final day of testing in second place on the timesheets, with George Russell trailing just 0.046 seconds behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, the Mercedes team remains upbeat about their prospects for the upcoming season.
Hamilton, who recently announced his departure from Mercedes to join Ferrari at the end of 2024, expressed pride in the team’s cohesion and emphasized their solid foundation with the W15, stating, “We’ve got a great platform to build on.”
Echoing Hamilton’s sentiments, Russell, who secured Mercedes’ last F1 victory in the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix, acknowledged the team’s progress with the W15 but conceded that Red Bull remains a formidable opponent. He stressed the importance of optimizing the current package and narrowing the performance gap to their rivals.
Both drivers commended the efforts of the team at Brackley and Brixworth for their meticulous work in preparing the car for the season ahead. With optimism abound, Mercedes looks forward to the challenges of the upcoming season, fueled by the promising performance displayed during testing and the determination to further enhance their competitiveness on the grid.
