Behind McLaren, alone as expected ahead of the weekend, is Mercedes, as in Australia and China, looking to confirm that it is a real surprise and join the fight for the podium. A result that, according to what was seen on Friday, does not seem unattainable, especially since the impressions on the hard tires were positive.
There are still some details to work on, following the trend seen in the first two races – matching the feel to the soft tyre in qualifying, where the key is getting all the pieces of the puzzle in the right place at the right time. In China it was clear that the W16 is still extremely dependent on environmental and track conditions for performance, and on a demanding track like Suzuka, finding the right combination is essential.
On the one hand, Kimi Antonelli faces the same problems as elsewhere – arriving in the first sector with tires that are not in the optimal working window, i.e. icy, which explains the gap to his teammate in the fast corner section, where even the smallest mistake can affect a good part of the winding part of the track.
The balance on soft tyres is always very sensitive, as you don’t want to have the opposite effect – while coming in with tyres that are too hot can lead to overheating in the first sector and problems in the slower parts of the track. Analysis of the data shows this difference – the two Mercedes drivers have very different approaches, with Russell being competitive in the first sector, but losing more in the slow parts of the circuit.
For now, Mercedes seems very happy with its potential and is confident that there is a chance not only for the first two rows of the grid in qualifying, but also for a podium finish, as the car’s balance immediately showed itself to be close to the ideal window, which quickly instilled confidence in the drivers. However, it will be important to maintain this form tomorrow, when the wind changes – on a track where great stability is required in medium- and high-speed corners, gusts of wind can significantly affect the balance, as each aerodynamic package reacts differently.
“From our side, it was a pretty positive day. The car was working really well. I was really happy with it, honestly. We have to make sure it stays that way tomorrow. The wind plays a big role. It’s very windy and tomorrow the wind direction will change 180 degrees, which will affect the feel in the car. But I’m confident we can fight for the first two rows,” said Russell.
“Often when you put a hard tyre on, it lasts quite a long time. I did four laps on it, and on Sunday you hope it lasts about 30. So the last ten laps of the race are the ones where you find out whether the tyre will last or not. That will be something new for everyone on Sunday,” added the Mercedes driver.
“Maybe it will rain. I don’t think there’s much to learn from this. But, like I said, we’ve always been somewhere or near the top of the standings, which is the most important thing.”
Although the two McLaren drivers identified Russell as their main rival, albeit more in a single fast lap than in long stints, the Briton himself admitted that the two Woking cars are out of reach when they put together a perfect lap.
“McLaren are very strong again and when they put together a lap properly they are a step ahead. But that’s something we already know. Some drivers, like Hadjar, have done a great job. He was very quick too, which is a surprise. So we don’t know what to expect tomorrow. It’s unusual to see so many different teams in this group. But I like to think we will fight for the top four,” concluded Russell.
