George Russell has voiced serious concerns over Mercedes’ recent slump in performance, noting that the team has significantly regressed in the second quarter of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Despite a promising start to the year, which included four podium finishes in the first six races, Mercedes has only managed one further top-three result in the last six events—Russell’s win in Canada. His teammate, rookie Kimi Antonelli, joined him on the podium in that race, but otherwise, the team has struggled to maintain form.
The Brackley-based team is also surrounded by speculation about its future driver lineup. While Max Verstappen has been rumored as a possible recruit, signs increasingly point to Russell and Antonelli continuing with Mercedes into the 2026 season. Nonetheless, Russell made it clear that unless the performance of the W16 car improves significantly, any chances of luring a top-tier driver like Verstappen remain slim. For now, the primary concern remains the sharp drop in competitiveness.
Russell’s frustration grew after a disappointing qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps, where he could only manage 13th for the sprint race and sixth for the Grand Prix. The team’s underwhelming pace over the weekend left both drivers perplexed, with Antonelli suffering early exits in both SQ1 and Q1 sessions. Russell emphasized that despite feeling confident in his driving, the car just wasn’t delivering the needed speed, particularly in comparison to their earlier performances this season.
When asked whether changes were made between the sprint and the main qualifying session, Russell admitted that only minor adjustments were possible. He explained that sprint weekends offer little room for drastic setup overhauls and that their tweaks failed to produce the desired impact. Reflecting on the bigger picture, he acknowledged that Mercedes needs to analyze how they’ve gone from consistent podium contenders to struggling midfield competitors within such a short timeframe.
This alarming shift in form has raised urgent questions for Mercedes as they prepare for the latter half of the season. Russell’s remarks underscore the urgency for the team to regroup and reassess their technical direction. Without swift improvements, not only will they risk falling behind rivals, but they may also jeopardize future prospects in the ultra-competitive world of Formula 1.
About the Author
