After qualifying near , Charles Leclerc and George Russell expressed surprise at how competitive Red Bull appeared.
Leclerc, despite outpacing Verstappen in certain sessions, noted Ferrari’s performance as “better than expected.” He believed they could have challenged Verstappen further, indicating they exceeded initial expectations.
Russell, set to start in third, echoed similar sentiments, stating that Red Bull’s closeness was “better than expected” for their rivals. However, he tempered expectations for race day, anticipating a slight deficit in race pace compared to Red Bull.
Mercedes, despite improvements since testing, still faces challenges in cooler conditions. Russell highlighted their historical struggles in such conditions but expressed confidence in their new car. He anticipated a close battle with Ferrari and Red Bull but acknowledged Verstappen’s exceptional performance.
The tight competition in qualifying, with the top nine drivers separated by half a second, indicates a closing field due to stable regulations. Russell believes this trend will continue, bringing the teams closer together and fostering more exciting racing.
Overall, both drivers emphasized the unexpected competitiveness of Red Bull and the anticipation of a closely contested race.
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