Russell reiterates McLaren claim with ominous temperature warning

George Russell has doubled down on his stance that McLaren comfortably has the best package in F1 at the moment, arguing the Woking squad will "excel" in the coming rounds.

The championship heads to warmer climates after three cool weekends to start the season in Australia, China and Japan.

With the gulf nations of Bahrain and Saudi Arabian playing host to the final two legs of the current triple header, Russell believes the papaya team will be in its element.

The British driver caused a stir with compatriot Lando Norris at the first grand prix of this campaign, claiming McLaren could win every race this year without further developing its car, something his fellow Briton shut down.

That is a feat no longer possible after Max Verstappen clinched victory for Red Bull at Suzuka, but Russell still expects McLaren to come back swinging as the temperature rises.

"I don't think we've seen the best of McLaren yet," the Mercedes driver said on Sky Sports F1. "It's been three cold races. We're wearing jackets here, and last week [in China].

"I think when we go to Bahrain, 35 degrees, and Saudi, 30, 35 degrees, I think that's where we're going to see those guys excel.

"And we know we've always been pretty strong in the cooler conditions, so I'm keeping my feet on the ground. It's been a great first three races, 21 to go. It's still early days."

In pursuit of greater consistency

Buoyed by favourable conditions for the W16, Russell has started the campaign in fine form, racking up two podiums before a trip to Japan that did not deliver what it perhaps should have done for the 27-year-old.

A mistake at the start of his final qualifying run left him set the fifth-quickest time in the grid-setting session, and he could not improve from there in the race.

"I think in the last couple of years, I've not been very consistent, and it's something I wanted to work on, maybe having less fluctuations," he reflected.

"It's been a solid start to be year and I've been happy. I don't think we could have achieved a higher result in the first two races.

"I think P4 probably would have been a fair result [at the Japanese Grand Prix], but we came home in P5."