Not Singapore: George Russell disagrees with Toto Wolff, says this track will suit Mercedes

George Russell is targeting his first-ever victory in Formula 1 and Mercedes' first of the season.

George Russell has tipped the upcoming United States Grand Prix as a potentially strong weekend for the W13, as the British driver sets his sights on achieving his first ever Formula 1 victory in one of the remaining six races of the season.

The former Williams driver has performed excellently since joining Mercedes this season, and the Brit looks staggeringly on track to beat team-mate Sir Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship.

Russell is currently fourth in the standings and is incredibly in the fight for second, whilst Hamilton occupies sixth place, 35 points behind his 24-year-old team-mate.

The formerly dubbed Mr Saturday has maximised the woeful W13’s potential this season, in a year that the Germans simply want to end.

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Russell has achieved many podiums and even a pole position this season; however, that first victory still eludes him.

Mercedes are also yet to taste victory this season, as their run of having won a race every year since 2012 continues to look unlikely to continue.

The Brackley-based team do appear somewhat confident ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, with team boss Toto Wolff having admitted that the Marina Bay Circuit “should suit” the W13.

Street circuits have been the team’s achilles heel this season, after struggling at Baku and Monaco.

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The team will be hoping that the bumpy streets doesn’t result in their porpoising issue resurfacing, after seemingly getting over their spine-breaking problem.

Whilst Wolff appears to be looking forward to this weekend’s race, Russell is slightly more apprehensive over what might unfold.

Singapore hasn’t been a great race for Mercedes in recent races at the venue, which hasn’t featured on the calendar since 2019 following the Coronavirus pandemic.

Russell retired from the most recent race in the Asian country, whereas Hamilton finished fourth.

If the W13 is unaffected by the bumps, then this weekend could see Mercedes challenge for the victory, given how strong they’ve appeared at high downforce circuits.

Russell is remaining open-minded but does think this weekend “could be interesting”, the Brit is also more optimistic about the US Grand Prix later in the year.

“Not too sure,” Russell said.

“There’s no stand-outs that really spring to mind.

“Singapore could be interesting, but historically it’s a circuit where Mercedes have struggled a little bit, and we know at street circuits this year we haven’t fared so well.

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“I’d probably say maybe Austin; I think Austin could be a circuit that suits us better – but I truly don’t know.

“I think as a team we’re making a huge amount of progress at the moment and [we’re] understanding the car more and more,” he said.

“Hopefully as we develop the car further, we can take some further gains.”