Mercedes Triumphs in Engine Recovery as Russell Gears Up for Hungarian Grand Prix with High Hopes After Silverstone Setback

George Russell discusses engine's condition following Silverstone withdrawal

"We have been in the lead for the past four races following the enhancements"

George Russell has disclosed that despite his withdrawal from the Silverstone race, Mercedes managed to salvage his engine.

A presumed problem with the water system was identified as the reason for Russell's premature end to his F1 British Grand Prix race recently.

"He immediately told Sky Sports, 'My steering wheel was flashing alerts for a potential water cooling malfunction.'"

Before the F1 Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, where Crash.net is on the ground in the paddock, Russell has elaborated on the repercussions of the incident.

He assured that his engine was intact, stating, "Thankfully, the engine has been preserved, and we will continue to use it."

"To be frank, I believe we're going to stick with the same engine for this weekend's race. Essentially, the issue was a water leak; the engine wasn't receiving sufficient water."

The squad realized early on, around the second or third lap of the competition, that the temperatures kept rising, leading to a decrease in power.

"Indeed, it was quite disappointing, yet as Lewis mentioned, we are currently in an excellent position and we are prepared to compete once again. I'm optimistic that we'll get another chance."

Mercedes heads into Hungary on the back of two consecutive Formula 1 grand prix victories, first with Russell in Austria followed by Lewis Hamilton's win at Silverstone.

In the last four races, Mercedes has accumulated the highest number of points compared to any other team.

"We're all truly thrilled," expressed Russell, speaking on their eagerly anticipated comeback.

"At the beginning of the year, if someone had said we'd be heading to Hungary in contention for our third consecutive win, we would have found it hard to believe."

Since making improvements, we've been at the forefront of the past four races, marking a remarkable shift in our performance. The team is highly energized and enthusiastic.

"Looking ahead to the upcoming two race weekends, nothing is for certain. Reflecting on the previous four, it's clear that we've had the fastest car on the grid during qualifying in two instances, and the fastest car on the track during the race in another two."

"However, during the races in Austria and Barcelona, we found ourselves trailing Max and Lando by a substantial margin of 10 to 20 seconds, so it's crucial for us to assess our performance this upcoming weekend. Nonetheless, we're really looking forward to the future with great anticipation."

"Max has secured victories in two of those competitions…"

Despite the fading supremacy of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, he continues to hold a substantial advantage at the top of the F1 standings.

Currently, Formula 1 is experiencing a higher level of competition than it has seen since the beginning of Verstappen's reign at the top.

Each driver from the Mercedes and Ferrari teams, along with McLaren's Lando Norris, have secured a grand prix victory this season.

"Max has a significant lead, while Lando is firmly in second place," Russell commented on the championship rivalry.

"However, our objective for the remainder of the year is to aim at securing as many victories as we can."

"Undoubtedly, we've made significant progress in narrowing the gap. In the recent four races, we've had two outstanding performances. However, when it's all said and done, Max has come out on top in two of these races and secured a second-place finish in another. He was also in a strong position to clinch second in Austria."

"Those guys have been performing quite well recently, so it's clear we're closer to them than before. What's essential is how we fare in this upcoming race weekend, especially in Spa. I believe that if we manage to perform well in these two races, we'll be quick across all circuits."

Russell highlighted the factors behind Mercedes' resurgence: "We introduced a fairly significant update in Montreal, but the improvement in lap time was disproportionately large compared to the actual scale of the upgrade.

"Considering the current performance of the car, we both feel a lot more assured and are able to drive it nearer to its maximum potential."

"Now, when we're racing, the tires are performing better, making them simpler to handle."

"The improvement initially seemed minor, but it has significantly impacted the car's speed, transforming a modest tweak into a substantial advantage on the track. This is primarily because it allows us to push the vehicle harder, with the added benefit of increased confidence while driving."

He emphasized, "The most important lesson is that we remained united as a team. Everyone stayed closely connected.

Mercedes has maintained stability in its organizational structure. Toto deserves recognition for his trust in his team, allowing them the opportunity to excel in their roles.

"I believe what distinguishes our team from numerous others is our ability to excel in this aspect. Up to this point, it appears we've been quite successful, and we're eager to keep progressing on this path."

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