Russell admits Mercedes ‘not close’ to frontrunners at Silverstone

Mercedes faced a challenging opening day at the British Grand Prix, with George Russell admitting the team was "not close" to frontrunners McLaren and Ferrari. Both Russell and Kimi Antonelli were off the pace, attributing their struggles to high track temperatures. The duo expressed strong hopes for cooler conditions over the weekend, believing it would significantly improve their car's performance. Russell noted Ferrari's recent surge, suggesting the Scuderia benefits from warmer weather while Mercedes suffers. Despite the setback, Russell remains optimistic that a colder, potentially wet qualifying session could propel Mercedes back into contention, aiming to challenge their rivals if the mercury drops.