Both Toto Wolff and George Russell believed that Mercedes had the second quickest car in Hungary, trailing only behind Red Bull. Despite not finishing on the podium, Wolff stated that they didn’t capitalize on their car’s performance. Russell agreed, saying that Mercedes was “equal second” with McLaren, acknowledging the strong performance of both teams.
Wolff pointed out that Mercedes had the speed profile to match their claim, and Russell mentioned that McLaren might have a slight edge, especially with their driver Lando Norris, who has been performing impressively. However, Russell expressed confidence that Mercedes could hold off McLaren’s threat for the rest of the season.
Russell was disappointed not to make more of his race in Hungary, but he was content with extending the gap to Aston Martin in the Constructors’ Championship. He believed that Mercedes had the potential to be up there with Lewis Hamilton and that having two cars on the front two rows could change the dynamic of the race significantly. Despite missing a small opportunity, Russell was pleased with the points gained for Mercedes in the championship standings.