Mercedes F1’s gains compared to Bahrain “incredibly satisfying”

After spending the winter hoping it would be able to close the gap with Red Bull, Mercedes instead found itself further adrift in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, slipping to being the fourth quickest team behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin.

But, while Russell still qualified behind a car from each of those teams in Jeddah, setting the fourth-fastest time six tenths off polesitter Sergio Perez, the Briton was buoyed by a much-improved performance from…