George Russell reacts to F1 testing: “Mercedes W16 car is good, McLaren doesn’t surprise us”. The comments of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli after the final day of testing in Bahrain.

Mercedes, strong in qualifying pace

Mercedes leaves Bahrain testing with a smile. Although their race pace didn’t seem the best—perhaps even the worst among the top teams—the Brackley squad looks ahead to Melbourne with confidence, aware of the progress made over the winter.

George Russell, in particular, can be pleased with his times. Second on day one and in the morning of day two, the Briton led the third day, confirming that the W16 is already competitive in single-lap performance.

George Russell’s words

“These were three productive days. The team did a great job in Brackley, Brixworth, and here on track to prepare for testing and cover a significant number of kilometers. We had three uninterrupted days, and the car is working well,” George Russell commented. “It’s no surprise that some of our rivals, especially McLaren, are strong. We gathered important data and insights that give us the opportunity to find further improvements ahead of Melbourne. Next week, Kimi and I will be at the factory working in the simulator, and everyone will be giving their best to bring the strongest package to Australia.”

Kimi Antonelli’s words

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who was second this morning, added: “Overall, these were three positive days on track here in Bahrain. It was a productive test, and we gained a good understanding of the W16 by completing plenty of laps. There were some interruptions and red flags that delayed our program, but we managed to complete everything we planned. The conditions were also mixed, with cold and wind, especially during the first two days. This made it even harder than usual to get a clear picture of the pecking order, but we focused on our work and are satisfied with the results. Now we can leave, analyze the data, and keep working to bring the best possible car to Melbourne in two weeks.”