Russell: "Are too far away to make significant step forward"

George Russell doesn't think he can compete for honorary medals this weekend. The Mercedes driver knows he'll be driving with a few new parts in Italy, but that won't be nearly enough to keep up with guys like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

Backlog of Mercedes too big

"Our pace compared to Ferrari and Red Bull is about seven-tenths to a second slower and then when you look at the position in the championship it is higher than you would expect," Russell told during the press conference, broadcast by Sky Sports. The 24-year-old driver continued: "We know we won't keep this position unless we find more performance."

Mercedes does come up with a few minor updates this weekend at Imola, but according to the young Briton, it is not nearly good enough to close the gap towards its rivals at the front. "We are constantly trying new things, but where we are now, we are too far away to make a significant step forward." The German formation will thus once again be involved in the battle for 'the best of the rest.'

Russell currently occupies second place in the world championship behind Charles Leclerc, but he benefited mainly from crashes by Max Verstappen (twice), and Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz (both once).