After eight years of continued success, Mercedes is facing the most difficult period in the team’s short yet successful history. The German team is not only struggling but is not showing signs of long-term improvements as well. This is making life for everyone at Brackley difficult, especially the drivers. The unpredictability is making the team look immature with no one fully aware of the impact of the track on the car. This showcases how confused and clueless Mercedes still is about their car’s behavior. According to George Russell, this scenario needs to change as soon as possible.

The Brit was mocked just last week for inaccurately predicting the team’s state at the Red Bull Ring. However, after the first two practice sessions, there is a clearer picture of Mercedes’ chances at Silvertone. They’re not good! The team is still struggling to understand their car. Speaking after the first two practice sessions, as quoted by Formula Passion, Russell believes this scenario needs to change as soon as possible.

“There’s definitely a lot of work to do, it wasn’t our best Friday yet,” commented Russell. “The conditions will be different tomorrow, but we have to get to the bottom of the matter, because the pace after FP1 seemed decent with the medium tyres we were up-front. However, with the soft tires we were nowhere even in terms of pace, and we need to understand why.” (Translated by Google)

Russell added, “Could the heat have had an influence? Yes, there is sort of a repeating trend with our car, I couldn’t quite say why. I still have to talk to the team to try to understand what we can do better in view of tomorrow and the race.”

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This scenario could’ve been made worse with a hint of internal civil war in the Mercedes garage after an incident in Barcelona. However, any suggestion of the same was quickly diffused by the team boss.

Toto Wolff defuses any shades of 2016 after George Russell and Lewis Hamilton’s coming together in Barcelona

During the early stages of the Spanish GP, the Mercedes men showcased shades of the 2016 rivalry on track. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell made contact during Q2. The misunderstanding caused a lot of commotion in the heat of the moment as Hamilton’s car took some damage. However, the double podium in the race diffused any suggestion of intra-team rivalry. In fact, the entire incident was deemed a simple misunderstanding, and speaking to the media, boss Toto Wolff diffused all suggestions of a repeat of the 2016 rivalry.

Journalist Christian Menath revealed, “Toto was asked yesterday after qualifying: ‘if it reminded him of 2016 Rosberg vs Hamilton’. But he said: ‘No, no shades of 2016’. And I fully agree with Toto. So, there was nothing between the teammates. It was just miscommunication.” The two Mercedes men have been getting along brilliantly so far and this incident in Barcelona isn’t going to change that.

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The two might be getting along brilliantly. However, their partnership will be truly tested only once they have a competitive enough car and they are fighting for the ultimate goal. Until then, it’s all hunky dory!