George Russell ended Friday's free practice at the Italian GP in Monza on top, yet the Mercedes driver refuses to be labeled the favorite for victory. Instead, he pointed to Ferrari as the squad to beat this weekend.
Friday at Monza was a solid day for Russell. Besides leading FP2, he also gained from teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli's grid penalty. That scenario boosts Russell's chances of securing a crucial win to keep his title hopes alive. But Russell chose to stay grounded.
“It was a pretty positive Friday. We got through a lot of work and seemed to have good pace on both single laps and long runs. After FP1, we made some changes that helped. But we know there’s still work to do tonight,” said Russell, as quoted by FormulaPassion.
Despite his strong showing, Russell sees an open battle. He highlighted McLaren's recent consistency and Red Bull's threat. “Ferrari looked very competitive and still seems to be the team to beat. We also know how strong McLaren has been lately, and I have no doubt they will be up there tomorrow. We can't rule out Red Bull either. It's an encouraging start, but it's early days. Let's see what Saturday brings,” he added.
Russell's comments signal that Mercedes isn't fully confident despite leading day one. Tire degradation and race strategy will be key at Monza, a track demanding low downforce and top speed. If Mercedes maintains this form through qualifying, Russell could close the gap in the standings. But if Ferrari or McLaren optimize their setups, Russell's weekend could turn tough.
Baca Juga
Red Bull mengakui masalah keseimbangan pada mobil setelah keluhan radio Max Verstappen di GP Italia. Pierre Wache menjelaskan tantangan yang dihadapi tim di Monza.
Ferrari menghadapi dilema di Monza: menambah kecepatan di trek lurus atau memperbaiki keseimbangan SF-26 yang dikeluhkan Hamilton, sementara Mercedes masih memimpin.
Charles Leclerc memulai GP Italia di Monza dengan memimpin FP1 dan P2 di FP2. Ia mengaku tahu kelemahan SF-26 dan fokus memperbaikinya.
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