Sam Bird has admitted that the BBC pundit was ‘surprised’ by a Formula 1 driver who Nico Rosberg felt was ‘struggling’ in qualifying for the 2024 Chinese GP this Saturday.
The pinnacle of motorsport returned to the Jiading District for the first time in five years this weekend. Yet, despite Formula 1’s hiatus, the Chinese GP has so far followed the usual trend as Max Verstappen won the Sprint and he also comfortably secured pole for the Grand Prix.
Formula 1 has changed its weekend structure in 2024, though, and now allows the teams to modify their set-ups following the Sprint. But the changes that Mercedes made to their W15 did not pay off as Lewis Hamilton bowed out in Q1 and George Russell also battled for pace.
George Russell ‘surprised’ Sam Bird in qualifying for the 2024 Chinese GP
The manner in which Russell struggled in Q1 particularly surprised McLaren Formula E racer, Bird. His lack of speed during the opening stage of qualifying for the Chinese GP also left the 2016 F1 drivers’ champion, Rosberg, at a loss over why the Mercedes star was so slow in Q1.
Russell sat 12th on the timesheet after his first run in qualifying with a 1.422-second deficit to Oscar Piastri. The McLaren driver was setting the early pace with a 1:35.015. Yet Russell’s second lap only trimmed his deficit after improving by 0.703s to move up to only sixth place.
READ MORE: 5 unforgettable Chinese GP moments including Schumacher’s last win in F1
Bird expected more from Russell and Mercedes as Piastri held such a strong advantage over the one-time Grand Prix winner. Russell is also a previous pole-sitter after topping qualifying for the 2022 Hungarian GP. Yet he was miles from contention in the early stages in Shanghai.
“[I am] surprised by George Russell,” Bird said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “I thought the Mercedes might of been a little bit more competitive than that.”
Nico Rosberg felt Mercedes star George Russell was ‘struggling’ in Shanghai
Russell continued to improve in Q1 and posted a 1:35.733. But he remained some way shy of the pace that McLaren were then setting with Lando Norris on a 1:34.842. His deficit to his British compatriot also left Rosberg feeling sorry given the Mercedes driver’s clear struggle.
Rosberg said on Sky Sports F1 (20/4, 08:15): “George is struggling early on in his Mercedes, unfortunately. Look where he is, nine-tenths off the McLaren [of Norris].”
It took Russell right until his final attempt in Q1 to secure his place in Q2 after improving to a 1:35.084. Yet Mercedes’ woes continued as Hamilton bowed out in P18. The 39-year-old set a personal-best lap time of a 1:35.573 after having a costly lock-up on the Briton’s last effort.
The post ‘Surprised’: F1 driver Nico Rosberg feels is ‘struggling’ stunned Sam Bird at Chinese GP appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
