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George Russell says it is âeasier said than doneâ to return to the basics after discovering that the straight-line speed problems affecting his Mercedes were not caused by his driving.
The issue emerged across the British and Belgian Grands Prix, where Russell struggled for speed on the straights. The initial suspicion was that his driving style was contributing to the deficit, leaving the Mercedes driver searching for ways to adapt his technique and extract more performance from the car.
That explanation was overturned ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. The problem was traced to the Mercedes power unit, confirming that there was nothing Russell could have done behind the wheel to resolve it.
The clarification came at an important moment in the season. As Formula 1 returns from its summer break at the Dutch Grand Prix, Russell is 59 points behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the standings. Mercedesâ decision to keep both drivers involved in its title fight is examined in this recent analysis, but Russellâs immediate priority is to regain a clear and uncomplicated reference point.
Russell explained that the uncertainty had followed him through several sessions. âIt is a huge load off my mind, but also while Iâm driving, through Silverstone and the majority of Friday and Saturday at Spa, I think about how I needed to drive to make the power unit fast in the straight,â he told media.
He had been examining every relevant part of his approach, including throttle application, gear usage and how early he could get on the power. The data appeared to suggest that his technique was the source of the problem, prompting him to spend three sessions trying to re-optimise his driving around a new method.
âSo all of that effort over the course of three sessions, trying to re-optimise my driving around a new technique, was kind of for nothing,â Russell said.
The experience has reinforced his belief that he performs best when he concentrates on the simple fundamentals. Yet Russell also recognises the inherent difficulty of applying that principle in Formula 1.
âIf I focus on the simple things, I know that is when I perform at my best, but weâre not in a simplistic sport, so saying letâs just solely focus on the simple things is easier said than done, sometimes,â he added.
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.