SHANGHAI (dpa-AFX) - The prospect of returning to the Mercedes dominance of years past is exactly to George Russell's liking. "We are here to fight for the World Championship again, and that is exactly what we have worked so hard for," said the Formula 1 championship leader.
His victory at the season opener in Australia is only a small first step for the Silver Arrows. This weekend in China, it should become clearer whether the German manufacturer's works team has indeed secured a significant advantage at the start of motorsport's new technical era.
Russell leads Formula 1 standings for the first time
"This is a perfect start," said the 28-year-old Briton, though he quickly added: "It is still very early in the season, and we know our competitors will try to close the gap quickly." In his fifth year with Mercedes, Russell leads the overall standings for the first time.
His 19-year-old teammate, Kimi Antonelli from Italy, sits directly behind him ahead of Sunday's race in China (8:00 AM/Sky). "We really have to work hard to stay at the top," Antonelli said.
Many are naming Mercedes as the favorite for the title. The last driver's title was won by Lewis Hamilton in 2020, one of six for the Briton with Mercedes since 2014. Nico Rosberg secured another in 2016, while Mercedes as a team won eight consecutive constructors' titles until 2021. Regulations were also significantly changed before 2014, but the overhaul ahead of this season was even more substantial.
Dismissing the critics: Russell finds driving "really fun"
Under the current regulatory reforms, drivers are required to manage their batteries constantly. They can no longer drive at full throttle throughout, or the new engines will run out of power. The power units derive roughly 50 percent of their performance from the internal combustion engine and nearly 50 percent from the battery, which must be recharged.
This has drawn heavy criticism from World Champion Lando Norris and four-time champion Max Verstappen, who would prefer to drive flat out at all times. "If he were winning, I don't think he would be saying that," Russell countered regarding McLaren driver Norris, who also misses the old cars.
After a strong previous year, the traditional British racing team is lagging behind Mercedes despite using the same engines, as is Red Bull with Verstappen. "I thought it was great. I found the race really exciting, and the car was really fun to drive," Russell said.
Did Mercedes trick its way back to the top?
Even before the first Grand Prix, allegations surfaced regarding supposed trickery at Mercedes. "We were told the compression ratio was illegal, which is complete nonsense, absolute nonsense," Team Principal Toto Wolff said during testing in Bahrain. "And now comes the next story, that our fuel is illegal. I don't know where this comes from. Maybe there will be something else tomorrow."
Mercedes allegedly found a trick to extract more power from the engine via the so-called compression ratio. The Mercedes unit reportedly increases compression to 18:1 during the race while maintaining the FIA-mandated limit of 16:1 during tests under normal ambient temperatures. This perceived loophole has now been closed by the FIA; starting June 1, compression will be measured in both cold and hot conditions.
Hamilton aims to catch former team: "Not impossible"
"We know our competitors will be hot on our heels," Wolff said ahead of the season's first sprint weekend. On Saturday in China, eight championship points will be awarded in the 100-kilometer short race, followed by 25 points for the Grand Prix victory a day later. Can Mercedes sweep both?
"The most important feeling is the great satisfaction we feel as a team," Wolff said. "We had such a long winning streak with eight titles, then a difficult phase. But after a dominant one-two finish, you feel like you're fighting for the World Championship again."
A year ago, former Mercedes driver Hamilton won the sprint in the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai for Ferrari, marking his first time on the top step for the Scuderia. To date, it remains the only triumph for the record world champion in the legendary red car. "We are not as fast as Mercedes, but we are right in the mix," said the 40-year-old, who finished fourth behind teammate Charles Leclerc last Sunday. "We still have a lot of work to do to catch them, but it is not impossible."/two/DP/stk
