George Russell says Mercedes have turn into much less aggressive because the weekend has gone on after the staff posted its worst qualifying efficiency of the season thus far in Miami.

Mercedes started Friday by topping the opening follow session. Nonetheless Russell certified solely sixth on the grid for right this moment’s race, seven locations forward of staff mate Lewis Hamilton, after the staff struggled in qualifying.

“The automobile is simply not working for us this weekend,” Russell admitted. “We’re struggling so much with the steadiness, bouncing round just a little bit which I assume quite a lot of groups thought was a factor of the previous, however is seemingly obvious for a lot of vehicles.

“Efficiency wasn’t coming to us. It’s an actual disgrace, everyone is working so arduous to realize it however clearly this can be a little little bit of an outlier circuit once we see the tempo of a few of the different vehicles.”

Russell mentioned Mercedes “haven’t any rationalization” for why they’re so removed from the tempo. He was nearly a second slower than pole-winner Sergio Perez in Q3.

The bizarre nature of the Miami circuit is prone to be a part of the reason, Russell believes. “It does appear just a little bit obvious to this Miami floor, possibly as a result of the observe’s so clean, I don’t know. However finally, we have to do a greater job.”

“The automobile was feeling good in FP1 however because the grip acquired laid down and the observe improved, we seemingly simply went slower and slower,” he defined.

“Everyone’s working so arduous to show this round and we’re but to convey any main upgrades to the automobile. We all know we’ve acquired a hell of a problem on our palms however everyone is working their arses off to realize it. So this can be a distinctive one, it’s a little bit of an outlier this circuit.”

The W14 is missing tempo in all areas across the Miami Worldwide Autodrome, he mentioned. “There’s not one particular nook. We’ve gone a bit left, proper and centre with the set-up and are nonetheless having a number of of the identical points.

“So I feel it’s basically the aerodynamic traits, which we want to suppose we’re resolving within the close to future or we’re pushing in the appropriate course. I’m not going to take a seat right here and provides guarantees that we’re going to search out a great deal of lap time however that’s what we’re pushing in the direction of.”

2023 Miami Grand Prix

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