Russell, who needs a good result to reignite his title challenge, is aware of this.
“They are very fast in the high-speed but I don’t think that will give them as much of an opportunity to use that pace as in qualifying,” he said, “because it puts too much temperature into the tyres. But pole is the best place to start, especially on a circuit where it’s difficult to overtake.”
If Norris can keep the lead off the line to the end of the first lap, he has a chance. But still Mercedes’ better pace, founded on a more-rounded car, could make them hard to beat in the race.
For Russell, the minimum he needs on Sunday is stay ahead of Antonelli.
Victory in the sprint, with Antonelli only fourth, moved him three points closer to the Italian, who dominated the first half of the season.
But Antonelli is still 56 points ahead. That advantage is already imposing. The longer Russell is unable to reduce it as the races tick down to a season’s conclusion shrouded in uncertainty because of the war in the Middle East, it will only become daunting.
Russell has been on much better form this weekend, and has beaten Antonelli in all three competitive sessions so far. He says a mental reset over the summer break, which he spent with his fiancee, Carmen, and two friends, has helped him put a difficult first part of the season in perspective.
“The truth is, obviously Kimi’s been doing an amazing job this season, and clearly the two of us have quite different driving styles,” Russell said. “That was apparent last year, and it is really working well for him with this car and these tyres.
“And just trying to implement something similar into my driving style. I kind of describe it as, like, if you change your golf swing, you’ll probably take half a step back before making those improvements.
“The break just allowed me to put those learnings into the back of my mind, come here this weekend, not fixating on what I want to try and achieve with the car and the tyres, but knowing in the back of my head what I need to achieve and just drive more freely.
“I’m really, really proud of that because it’s just sort of building that toolbox of experience for me that’s going to allow me to be even better in the years to come.
“After the break, I just feel way more relaxed. I don’t feel like I’ve got anything to lose.
“The pressure’s off. I’m just going to go out, enjoy it, and I don’t even really feel in a fight. It’s not mine to lose, it’s mine to gain. So that’s the mentality I’ve got, and I feel it’s going to help me. I’m just enjoying driving.”
