Russell Names Verstappen and McLaren as Favourites in Malaysia

Mercedes driver George Russell believes his team are not yet among the front-runners for victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix, despite introducing a substantial upgrade package on their W17 challenger. The Briton feels Red Bull's Max Verstappen and the McLaren drivers are currently displaying formidable pace.

The German outfit brought an end to a long wait for new components, introducing their first major technical overhaul since the Canadian Grand Prix as Formula 1 returns to the Sepang circuit.

Mercedes engineers focused their efforts primarily on the floor of the W17, implementing four distinct modifications to boost performance. The main floor body, leading edge, edge wings, and overall surface have all been revised to generate more aerodynamic downforce and optimize airflow around the car.

The updates also extend to the rear section. Upgraded suspension fairings and repositioned winglets aim to increase load over the rear axle, while the rear bodywork has been tightened with deeper side undercuts to enhance aerodynamic efficiency.

In the second free practice session, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished seventh and eighth respectively, with neither driver improving their time after bolting on soft tyres. The Mercedes pair trailed Verstappen's benchmark—set on medium tyres—by roughly half a second.

Mercedes appeared more competitive on their high-fuel race runs. Antonelli closely matched Verstappen's pace, though a shorter stint means direct comparisons remain tentative.

Russell offers realistic assessment of the pecking order