Russell battles ‘crazy’ wind in Mercedes shakedown

George Russell has reflected positively on the Mercedes W13 shakedown amid “absolutely crazy” wind brought by Storm Eunice to Silverstone.

Mercedes’ launch and shakedown for their all-new 2022 challenger fell on the day that, unbeknownst to them, would be when parts of England were subject to a rare code-red weather warning.

Sure enough, the wind was howling across the old airfield in Northamptonshire – which can be breezy enough at the best of times – and rain lashed down, but it did not stop Russell from having a broad smile after his first on-track experience of the W13.

In the morning, the Briton, who turned 24 on Tuesday, had taken part in the launch alongside his new team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, which was the final confirmation – as if any was needed – that the seven-time former World Champion would race in the forthcoming season after an agonising end to last year and his public silence thereafter.

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Describing the wind for the shakedown as “absolutely crazy”, Russell said he had “managed to keep the car on the black stuff” – with the next outing in the W13 for he and Hamilton being the unofficial testing session in Barcelona which starts five days hence.

The British weather delivered. But we’re not going to be put off by a bit of rain. pic.twitter.com/qnz941tQu6

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 18, 2022

“The car handled I would say largely as we expected,” said Russell, quoted by Motorsport.com. “But equally with these