George Russell conceded that Mercedes were \u201cnot close\u201d to the frontrunners during the opening day of action at Silverstone, with the Briton admitting that the squad are hoping for the temperatures to drop during the remainder of the weekend.<\/p>\n
After ending Free Practice 1 in fifth place on the timesheets, Russell<\/a> classified eighth in the second session<\/a> on a lap seven-tenths off the pace-setting time of McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris<\/a>.<\/p>\n When asked how close he felt to those at the front following Friday\u2019s running, the 27-year-old answered: \u201cWell after today not very close, but it has been warmer today. The track was 40 degrees and we are hoping the rest of the weekend it cools down.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it is a little frustrating for us that every single week we are at the mercy of the weather and we need to improve that, especially now we are entering the summer months. We are doing everything we can to improve it.<\/p>\n \u201cI think our fortunes will turn a little bit and it will come back towards us but, as I said, we can\u2019t be at the mercy of the weather and we are right now.\u201d<\/p>\n With Ferrari proving to be McLaren\u2019s closest competitors during Friday, Russell suggested that the Scuderia have taken a step forward.<\/p>\n \u201cFerrari have really turned it up the last couple of races,\u201d the 27-year-old explained. \u201cThey\u2019ve been strong in race pace all season really, but they\u2019ve been having bad Qualifyings.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think now we are entering summer, everyone is overheating a little bit more and we are probably taking a step backwards, and they\u2019ve taken a step forward purely because of the temperature.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s probably not great for them for some reasons, but it is also not great for us for other reasons too. Anyway, I\u2019m enjoying being here at Silverstone, enjoying seeing all the fans. I love this race weekend and I just hope we can improve for the rest of the week.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite having a tricky Friday, Russell responded positively when asked if the arrival of rain or gustier conditions could put Mercedes<\/a> back in the fight for pole position on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah for sure, coldness definitely. If it is wet for Qualifying then definitely excited for that,\u201d the four-time race winner said. \u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a unique one because the wet tyres actually deg more than the dry tyres.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like, I don\u2019t want to get too bogged up in the details here but actually a wet race probably wouldn\u2019t be ideal. But we just want it\u2026 cold and dry would be ideal.\u201d<\/p>\n