Mercedes’ George Russell: “I would definitely prefer to be in the position we are than their shoes”; Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc: “If we do every thing good it’s potential; watch the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP reside on Sky Sports activities from Friday, with Sunday’s race at 1pm
Final Up to date: 23/11/23 4:12pm
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With Mercedes simply 4 factors forward of Ferrari, George Russell fancies their probabilities of securing second place within the constructor standings within the season finale at Abu Dhabi
With Mercedes simply 4 factors forward of Ferrari, George Russell fancies their probabilities of securing second place within the constructor standings within the season finale at Abu Dhabi
George Russell believes Mercedes and Ferrari’s duel for second place within the Constructors’ Championship on the Abu Dhabi GP will show to be very shut, however believes his crew can prevail in Sunday’s season-ending race.
In a marketing campaign completely dominated by Pink Bull, ex-champions Mercedes and Ferrari have as an alternative been pressured to deal with the battle for second and arrive at 2023’s closing spherical separated by simply 4 factors within the former’s favour.
F1 groups obtain prize cash primarily based on their ending place within the Constructors’ Championship with the distinction between every place regarded as round £8m ($10m).
“We are excited for the challenge ahead,” stated Russell in Thursday’s pre-event press convention.
“It’s going to be a close fight with Ferrari. They are obviously coming off the back of a strong race [in Las Vegas] but I would definitely prefer to be in the position we are than their shoes.
“I feel we have to go on the market, deal with ourselves, attempt to be as quick as potential and if we accomplish that we’ll end forward.
“They were definitely pretty competitive here last year but we have been surprised a lot this season of which teams are faster, which races and visa-versa. So we are going in with an open mind.
“Qualifying I feel they’ll have barely the higher hand as they’ve tended to take action this season however Sunday I feel we might be a special story and we could have a great race.”
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Charles Leclerc was thrilled with the performance of his Ferrari in the last race at Las Vegas, while Carlos Sainz says he’ll use the winter to sort out his future in the team, with 2024 being the final year of his contract
Ferrari certainly arrive in the Middle East with the momentum in the race for second having taken 52 points out of Mercedes’ advantage in the last nine races.
Charles Leclerc finished an impressive second last week in Las Vegas after running Max Verstappen close for victory.
“I consider that Vegas could be very particular and really particular, so I don’t count on us to be as aggressive right here. However whether it is [the case that Ferrari are competitive] then it’s a good signal,” stated Leclerc.
Mercedes vs Ferrari in F1 2023
| Mercedes | Ferrari | |
| Points | 392 | 388 |
| Wins | 0 | 1 |
| Podiums | 7 | 8 |
| Poles | 1 | 7 |
| Two-car points finishes | 14 | 13 |
| Laps led | 19 | 117 |
| DNF/DNS/DSQ | 5/0/1 | 4/2/1 |
On the battle with Mercedes, Leclerc added: “We’re disillusioned with our season, however we each had a really comparable season and that is why we’re solely 4 factors aside. I do not suppose one deserves it greater than the opposite however clearly I’m driving for Ferrari, I like Ferrari and I would like Ferrari to be on high of Mercedes.
“So I am fully motivated to finish in front of them and I am pretty sure that as a team if we do everything perfect it is possible. But however, we expect Mercedes to be super competitive here as they have been very strong historically here so I hope we can make everything perfect and finish in front of them anyway.”
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Sky F1’s Anthony Davidson takes a have a look at the Yas Marina Circuit forward of this weekend’s closing race of the season on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
For team-mate Carlos Sainz, trying to cement a career-best fourth within the drivers’ standings, the ultimate weekend of an extended season provides twin motivation.
“If we beat Lando [Norris] and Fernando [Alonso] in the drivers’ it probably means we’ve had a good race and probably means we are also beating Merc,” stated Sainz.
“Just putting that extra bit of intensity to this last race, at least I have something to fight for. Everyone is very tired at this stage of the season and looking forward to the break but having those couple of things ahead of us this weekend gives us that extra motivation and intensity to make this weekend a bit more important and more exciting.”
Hamilton: Merc have ‘overachieved’ with W14 | Russell optimistic about winter progress
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Lewis Hamilton says he is by no means thought-about becoming a member of Pink Bull, and says Christian Horner is simply stirring the pot
Given the disappointing competitiveness and inconsistency of Mercedes’ 2023 automotive, the W14, Hamilton believes Mercedes have truly overachieved with it to be second heading into the ultimate spherical.
Mercedes have scored seven podium finishes, one fewer than Ferrari and Aston Martin and two fewer than McLaren.
“It would be a great achievement for us for sure,” Mentioned Hamilton to Sky Sports activities F1.
“Ultimately we want to win so it won’t be greater than winning.
“I positively suppose we now have outperformed the automotive by way of the 12 months. I feel Ferrari began off with a greater package deal than us and I feel have ended with a greater package deal than us most of the time. It has been an incredible accomplishment… nonetheless we now have to do the job.
“At the end of the day if we don’t get second in the Constructors’ Championship that will only spur us on even more for next year but of course the focus is to get those extra points for the team and keep them behind.”
The fact for Mercedes and Ferrari, winners of 24 constructors’ titles between them, is that whereas ending within the runner-up place this 12 months could be a welcome short-term enhance, it is the longer-term image – catching runaway champions Pink Bull – that issues most to them.
“I think the task for everybody is massive,” stated Russell.
“We are all trying to catch up to the most dominant car in F1 history, so that’s no short task. Everybody is going to have to come together, really focus and really put everything into it.
“Time will inform however I feel we’re going into this winter in a significantly better place than we had been 12 months in the past and two years in the past. We hope we aren’t going to stumble over something however, as I stated, time will inform.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday November 24
- 7am: F2 Practice
- 9am: Abu Dhabi GP Practice One (session starts at 9.30am)
- 10.55pm: F2 Qualifying
- 12.45pm: Abu Dhabi GP Practice Two (session starts at 1pm)
- 2.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday November 25
- 10.15am: Abu Dhabi GP Practice Three (session starts at 10.30am)
- 12.15pm: F2 Sprint
- 1.15pm: Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying build-up
- 2pm: Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying
- 4pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday November 26
- 9.10am: F2 Feature Race
- 11.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday Abu Dhabi GP build-up
- 1pm: The ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
- 3pm: Chequered Flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction
- 4pm: Ted’s Notebook
After the thrills of Las Vegas, Formula 1 heads to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit for the 2023 season finale and another stunning spectacle under the lights. Watch the Abu Dhabi weekend live on Sky Sports F1, with lights out on Sunday at 1pm. Stream F1 on Sky Sports activities with NOW
