George Russell is adamant that Mercedes is “not scratching our heads” to understand its performance deficit to Red Bull.
Having won a record-breaking eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships, Mercedes’ dominance was halted upon F1’s move to ground effect machinery last year.
Despite slipping to third in the standings and only achieving a solitary race victory in 2022, Mercedes was optimistic about instantly returning to title contention this season.
However, the German marque endured a troubled campaign, which saw the team abandon its ‘zeropod’ concept midway through a year that ultimately ended without a single win for the first time since 2011.
But with Mercedes pursuing a new car philosophy in 2024, Russell is confident that the Brackley squad has understood the issues that blighted it the past two years.
“I think we’re taking a clean slate into next year’s car,” Russell confirmed in Abu Dhabi. “I think that the positive is we’re not scratching our heads why we’re so far behind Red Bull.
“We see so many flaws with this car, which gives every single person back at the factory so much motivation and fire to chase after those problems and find those solutions, which we think will make a good step into next year.
“But, of course, I expect Red Bull to make a step again. But I’ve got no doubt, come Bahrain, we’ll be in a stronger position than we were in Bahrain this year.”
Despite Mercedes squandering several potential opportunities to end its win drought, the team ended the year by pipping Ferrari to second place by only three points.
Russell rounded out a “challenging” second year with Mercedes by claiming only his second podium of 2023, capitalising on Sergio Perez’s time penalty to finish third.
“It was a great weekend,” Russell reflected. “And I’m really pleased to finish on this high because it’s been a really challenging season.
“One, as a team, but on a personal side, just not getting the results that we probably deserve.
“The pace has been really strong on so many occasions, but just results kept on slipping through our fingers.
“So, you know, lady luck maybe on our side slightly today with Checo’s penalty but I think that more than made up for the other races this year.”
