George Russell has downplayed the claims he can follow up his 2024 win at Formula 1‘s Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend, tipping Red Bull to be the team to beat.
Mercedes and Russell pulled off a surprise win last season in Las Vegas, the Briton taking pole position and a comfortable win from then team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
The surprisingly cool conditions played a significant part in the victory, the W15 preferring those conditions to warm weather that caused significant tyre degradation.
With temperatures once again anticipated to be cooler, Mercedes could once again challenge for victory, but Russell has dampened hopes of a competitive showing.
Ahead of the weekend, he hinted that Las Vegas could result in a step forward for the German marque, but he believes its rivals held an advantage compared to 2024.
“Obviously last year was a great race for us,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“The car definitely performs very well in these cooler conditions.
“But we’ve also got to be realistic. That success a year ago doesn’t mean you’re going to have success a year later.
“We won in Singapore this year and we had a terrible race last year in Singapore in 2024. So it doesn’t mean it’s going be the same case this weekend.
“The likes of Red Bull have made big improvements on their low-downforce setting as well. They won in Monza, won in Baku, so I expect them to be strong too.”
A track-specific disadvantage for McLaren an advantage for Mercedes?
Russell then hinted that the unique characteristics of Las Vegas could hinder title contender McLaren, with tyre warm-up in qualifying proving crucial.
“If I took Mercedes out of the equation and I were to try and guess who would win this weekend, I think this would be a circuit where McLaren would struggle more than usual,” he revealed. “When you look at their performance in Canada was the only time they weren’t on the podium and their performance in Baku the only time they weren’t on the podium.
“This circuit has some similar characteristics to the two of those tracks when you talk about the coldness, or type of Tarmac, the C5 tyre, and then obviously low downforce – Baku is the same as Las Vegas.
“But there’s always these surprises and I think it’s so close in Q3 now between so many teams, if you can do a magic lap and you can start on pole position, your whole weekend changes.
“So they’ll be there or thereabouts, but I think you know, Red Bull probably have a better chance.”
READ MORE: Why Mercedes is cautious on repeating F1 Las Vegas GP win
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