George Russell believes he needs to go back to basics and rely on his instincts, as the Mercedes driver navigates a difficult spell in Formula 1.
Russell reckons his recent dip in performance is unlikely to be resolved through further technical scrutiny.
After a challenging Monaco weekend in which he questioned his own performance following qualifying, he has since suggested his immediate post-session criticism was driven more by emotion than accuracy.
Russell feels that over-analysis of data, feedback and telemetry is hindering rather than helping his recovery, disrupting the instinctive rhythm that has often defined his pace.
He is adapting to Pirelli tyre construction, with higher pressures altering grip and feel, and the way drivers extract performance. Monaco proved particularly difficult due to its confidence-heavy layout, though he has been strong on the same compounds elsewhere.
He accepts there is still scope for improvement, while recognising Formula 1 demands constant adaptation to changing cars, tyres and circuits.
“I didn’t have a lot of confidence in Monaco with the tyres and the car, and that is a circuit where it punishes you,” Russell said.
“Having reflected on it, I’m going into this weekend with a clear head, I’m not going to get too caught up with the data and drive on my instincts.
“To be honest, last year I rarely looked at any data, I just got in and drove, and I drove fast, and it worked, so I just need to sometimes trust in those instincts, as I did when I was karting.”
