Mercedes endured a difficult start to the weekend on Friday as 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton and168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: George Russell struggled with 🌺the balance of their upgraded W14 car on the first day of running at Barcelﷺona. 

But ha⛦rd work behind the scenes from Schumacher helped the team unlock a set-up direction 🌱that propelled Mercedes to their best result of the season. 

Hamilton finished second behind 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, while Russell came home third to complete the podium and seal M🐼ercedes’ first double rostrum appearance of the season. 

After Sunday's race, both drivers heaped praise on Schumacher, who was in Mercedes’ simulator ba♔ck at their Brackley factory until g𝔍one midnight on Friday evening. 

"Friday was a real struggle with the balanc🍷e, it was way out of the win﷽dow," explained Hamilton. 

"It was very hard to drive, very unpredictable. And then we did some great work overni🧸ght.  

"We've got a great team, with Mick back in the simulator on Frida🐷y night, and he did some great work, which helped us get on the right track on Saturday." 

Russell added: “It probably felt the best it's ever felt around Barcelona because of the cooler conditions. Definitely this season, it is probably the best it's felt, the most 🎉t𝐆ogether it's felt. 

“The team's done a really, really great job. The work that Mick and the simulatoꦰr t🧜eam are doing overnight, they were there well past midnight to help us with the set-up and get it in a good window for the race today.” 

Schumacher, the son of legendary seven-time world champion Michael, has taken on the role o⛦f Mercedes’ reserve driver this season after losing his Haas r♏ace seat at the end of 2022. 

The 24-year-old Ge😼rman will get his first taste of Mercedes’ W14 car on Wednesday when he takes part in the post-race Pirelli tyre test at Barcelona.