George Russell sees significant threats to Mercedes from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren at the Bahrain Grand Prix after a challenging start to the weekend despite a large car upgrade in Malaysia.
Mercedes debuted their most significant package of updates for four months on Friday but Russell says these improvements were “trumped” by the high levels of tyre degradation teams were having to grapple with amid sweltering track conditions and an abrasive tarmac on F1’s first return to the Sepang International Circuit in nine years.
Russell finished second to Verstappen in opening practice but he and title-leading team-mate Kimi Antonelli slipped to seventh and eighth respectively on the later timesheet after neither got their single soft-tyre flying laps together.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the pace ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and McLaren’s Lando Norris, while Verstappen was just two tenths off the pace in fourth despite not running the quicker soft-tyre at all.
And while enjoying his first experience of the sweeping Sepang layout, Russell said it had been a challenging day for the world championship leaders.
“Firstly, it was a really cool experience driving this circuit. I have never driven here before and it’s really an iconic place, so that was cool,” said Russell, last weekend’s impressive race winner in Azerbaijan.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
“But with these conditions, tyre deg is huge for everybody and the cars are operating in a very different window so I think, as a team, we just haven’t got the car quite where we need it to be.
“We need to make some set-up adjustments. We’re a bit off the pace.”
Mercedes’ aerodynamic upgrade – their first of this size since the Canadian Grand Prix at the end of May – includes changes to the title-leading W17’s floor and rear suspension.
Russell added: “I’m feeling the downforce in terms of the corners but with this amount of tyre overheating and tyre degradation that kind of trumps everything.
“So we just need to get on top of that overnight. That’s more of a set-up rather than the upgrade itself and go from there.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
And asked if Mercedes would be pole contenders if they make the required set-up changes for Saturday, Russell replied: “Currently I think Verstappen looks very fast and then the race pace of McLaren looked very quick.
“But never say never.”
‘Maybe a tiny step behind’ – Piastri hopes McLaren have more pace to find
The nature of the track had led many observers to install McLaren, whose car performs well in higher-speed corners, to be Mercedes’ closest challengers heading into the event.
The reigning world champions made a low-key start to Friday with neither of their drivers finishing inside the top 10 in first practice, but Norris showed promise on the soft-tyre runs in the second session and the MCL40 also looked competitive on the longer-runs with both drivers.
Oscar Piastri was sixth quickest overall and agreed that McLaren’s second session “seemed reasonable”.
“I think it looks pretty close amongst the top four teams,” said Piastri.
“Red Bull have looked very strong through the day. Mercedes as well have looked strong at points and, obviously, Ferrari were pretty good then [in second practice].
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
“So everyone has kind of had their turn of being reasonably competitive.
“I think we’re maybe a tiny step behind, but we made a lot of progress from FP1 so hopefully we can keep that trend going and we’ll see where we end up.”
Sky Sports F1’s live schedule Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Saturday October 3
5.15am: Bahrain GP Practice Three (session starts at 5.30am)*
8am: Bahrain GP Qualifying build-up*
9am: BAHRAIN GP QUALIFYING*
Sunday October 4
6.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Bahrain GP build-up*
8am: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX*
10am: Chequered Flag: Bahrain GP reaction*
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Malaysia for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit – watch Sunday’s race at 8am (build-up from 6.30am), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime