George Russell declared after his assertion victory on the Singapore Grand Prix that he “feels able to compete for the championship.”
The Mercedes driver reworked his gorgeous pole place into the dominant second victory of the season in Singapore, including to his earlier victory on the Canadian Grand Prix.
Russell’s victory expels recollections of crashing from third place in Singapore two years in the past, and the British really feel that he has come a great distance since then as a driver.
“I am a driver right this moment that is very totally different from the one I used to have been there just a few years in the past. I am extra full and extra assured.
“After all, as you’ll anticipate, I used to be nervous earlier than the race, however I did not really feel any further nerves or strain so as to add. It felt like one other race, I knew I had a possibility to win.
“So I mentioned that for some time – I really feel able to battle for the championship. I really feel able to take it to the following step.”
When requested what he may enhance, Russell mentioned, “I feel expertise comes with simply figuring out the best way to maximize each scenario.
“Possibly just a few years in the past I used to be somewhat extra nervous and I used to be over-pushing in conditions I in all probability should not. I felt extra relaxed now. I used to be relaxed right this moment.
“When it was raining an hour earlier than the race, I mentioned: ‘You understand, it is what it’s. It is the identical for everybody. There’s nothing I can do, so there is no level in stressing about it.’ I might have been somewhat totally different to myself just a few years in the past. ”
Mercedes left on the lookout for the reply.
Mercedes’ competitiveness in Singapore was an enormous shock for Russell. Russell admitted that the crew does not have a solution as to why it is so robust on the Marina Bay Road Circuit.
“If I have been to create a listing of all of the races I believed we may win this yr, this could in all probability be on the backside,” Russell mentioned.
“So I feel we have to sit down tomorrow and Tuesday and perceive why we carry out so properly.”
Toto Wolf, the principal of the Mercedes crew, was equally confused.
When requested the place Mercedes’ efficiency in Singapore got here from, he replied.
“And when you informed me we management the way in which we’re right this moment, I would not consider it.”
Wolff added: “These automobiles are simply shock packing containers. For those who ask McLaren why the final three races aren’t gone in any respect, you may in all probability wrestle with the reply.
“The margins are very small by inserting the automobile within the aerodynamic window on the fitting, extracting its largest mechanical grip with out killing the tires and clearly extracting the candy spots of the Pirellis. That does not at all times correlate with what you see within the simulation with what occurs on the observe.
“However (in Singapore) the tires, drivers and automobiles have been in sync and never overwhelmed.”
