The British driver had a long-distance simulation during preseason testing in the afternoon wit W15 at Behrain.

Mercedes driver George Russell debuted the W15 in the official pre-season test in Bahrain, allowing him to familiarize himself with the new car.

Despite finishing in 12th place on day one he has very positive reviews about the car. This is mainly because Mercedes focused on set-up changes and data accumulation rather than setting times.

Russell’s program started with quick laps to complete aerodynamic measurements using rakes, which marked a dramatic shift in Mercedes’ mindset.

The W14 was intended for a different philosophy, which resulted in its limitations when it came to the Red Bull concept in 2023. Russell’s feedback regarding the car, after testing day one was optimistic.

Overall, the W15 is more enjoyable to drive than last year's car. But we know it's not about feel, it's about speed. However, today was about learning and not chasing performance. We are focused on ourselves in this test, and only next week will we see how we stack up compared to the others.

George Russell said via motorsports.com.

Starting from scratch, the W15 sought to address these flaws, which included excessive sensitivity and erratic behavior. Mercedes’ philosophy has changed significantly for the W15 in comparison to the W14 of last year. Toto Wolff stated that the goal of the new car’s development was to improve handling for greater driver confidence during a press conference honoring Team Principals.

George Russell detailed Mercedes’ goals during the test days

George Russell is upbeat about the new Mercedes W15, saying that it is more drivable than the model that came before it. Despite a lackluster showing in the first preseason test, Russell thinks the car has a lot of potential. He feels that speed, not comfort, is the true test of a Formula 1 competitor’s success. While talking with the media he said,