George Russell has voiced serious concerns over Mercedes’ recent performance after a disappointing qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix. Despite managing to secure sixth place on the grid, Russell admitted that the result masked deeper issues within the team. He noted that both he and rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli had struggled throughout the Spa-Francorchamps weekend, failing to reach the final phase of Sprint Qualifying and showing limited pace in the Sprint race itself. According to Russell, the team’s overall pace had clearly regressed, and they are struggling to pinpoint the reasons.
Russell emphasized how tight the margins were during qualifying, stating that being just a tenth slower at certain stages could have pushed him out in Q1 or left him at the back of the top 10 in Q3. He considered sixth place the absolute maximum they could have achieved, given their current performance level. While last year he also started sixth and delivered an impressive drive before being disqualified for a technical infringement, he’s cautious about drawing comparisons, especially with wet conditions forecast for race day.
The British driver remains hopeful but realistic about Mercedes’ trajectory. He acknowledged that while there were some positives to take away, especially with unpredictable weather on the horizon, the team needs to seriously analyze their recent decline. Russell pointed out the sharp contrast between their strong start to the season, which included four podiums in the first six races, and the more recent stretch that has yielded only one top-three finish.
Kimi Antonelli, meanwhile, has continued to face challenges in his debut season. The young Italian driver could only manage 18th in qualifying and admitted he is currently in a difficult period. Unlike his Sprint Qualifying error that set him back earlier in the weekend, Antonelli didn’t have any excuses for his Grand Prix performance, as he simply lacked pace. With only a single podium in Canada and no points on European circuits so far, he admitted that his confidence is low and he needs to rediscover his form quickly.
Overall, the Belgian Grand Prix weekend has exposed significant performance issues within the Mercedes camp. While Russell remains a steady presence in the top 10, the car’s inconsistency and Antonelli’s ongoing struggles underline a broader concern. The team now faces the critical task of understanding what’s gone wrong and how to reverse the downturn, especially as the second half of the season intensifies and rivals continue to evolve.
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