George Russell cautions that Ferrari may possess a significant edge at the Mexican Grand Prix.

This circuit in Mexico City is situated more than 2200 meters above sea level. The thin atmosphere diminishes downforce and cooling, compelling turbochargers to exert significantly more effort to supply the engine.

During a media session at the drivers' press conference in Mexico, Russell was inquired if the altitude would pose challenges this weekend.

"It’s going to be quite fascinating," he remarked. "I think turbo lag is going to be a considerable factor for many teams this weekend. There’s clearly no secret that teams like Ferrari utilize a smaller turbo than most, so they likely have a substantial advantage in this aspect.

"We’re uncertain at this point how difficult it will be, but I can definitely anticipate it not being straightforward."

George Russell, Mercedes

Mercedes is also in the process of grasping its latest upgrade package, which the 28-year-old found challenging at the United States Grand Prix. He finished eighth in Austin, while his teammate and current championship leader Kimi Antonelli secured his ninth grand prix victory of the season.

"It’s been somewhat unusual for us since we introduced this package to the car," Russell continued. "We initially brought it in Malaysia, and it was a rather tough weekend for both of us. Then Kimi had it in Singapore, and once again, it wasn’t a straightforward weekend.

"I had it back in Austin and struggled quite a bit. He, on the other hand, had a very strong race. We are noticing certain characteristics that indicate it performed within a very narrow window. So we need to work on broadening that."

Russell currently holds the second position in the drivers' championship, trailing Antonelli by 123 points, who has the chance to secure the title this weekend.