George Russell is using the Mercedes Formula 1 "glory years" as inspiration to try and turn his season around. Russell has only one podium finish - in Spain - to his name in 2023 as Lewis Hamilton has gained the upper hand in the intra-team battle at Mercedes in Russell's second season with the team, leading the younger Briton by 49 points at the summer break. Since he joined the team, Mercedes has not been able to recapture its title-winning form between 2014-2021, with Russell's win in the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix being its only during the ground effects era. With the team continuing to try and catch Red Bull, Russell says he is looking to the past to try and improve Mercedes' future.
Russell's inspiration
"We're working really hard on the characteristics for next year," Russell told media including RacingNews365. "We're looking really a lot at how the previous generations of cars were for Mercedes during the glory years and using that as a bit of inspiration as clearly [they were] some of the best cars in history. "That's given us some pointers on where we need to try to and aim for. "We're definitely ready for a season of two halves. "The first six races were really strong, the last six races not so much. "I have a few ideas why that is, with quite a lot of missed opportunities this season, for various reasons. "Some have been mistakes of my own, the failure in Australia cost me a lot of points, but nevertheless, if you're not fighting for P1 in the Drivers' Championship, you just want to maximise the Constructors' and so far, we are kind of doing that."
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