George Russell Aims High After Strong Spanish GP Qualifying
Barcelona, Spain – May 31, 2025
George Russell delivered a confident performance in Saturday’s qualifying session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, securing P4 for Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver matched Max Verstappen’s lap time of 1:11.848 in Q3, but was placed behind the Red Bull due to setting the time later in the session.
After a frustrating weekend in Monaco, Russell expressed relief at being back in contention near the front of the grid.
“It feels good to be back up there,” Russell said post-session. “Monaco was a tough one, but the car has felt strong here and we’re clearly in a good place this weekend.”
Confidence Building Ahead of a Tough Race
The Brit highlighted the intense heat in Barcelona as a key factor that could shape the race. With air temperatures in the high 20s and track temps expected to exceed 50°C, tyre degradation will be a major challenge. However, Russell believes Mercedes can rise to the occasion.
“We’ve shown before, especially in hot races like Bahrain, that we can manage the harder tyre compounds well. Hopefully, we’ll see the same result tomorrow.”
With McLaren dominating the front row and Verstappen ahead in third, Russell is targeting a podium finish and possibly more.
“Last year, I started P4 here and was leading by the first corner,” he added. “So anything can happen. A podium is definitely the goal.”
Mercedes’ young talent Kimi Antonelli also impressed during qualifying, progressing through to Q3 and finishing sixth on the grid. It was another step forward for the rookie, who continues to gain experience and deliver consistent performances.
The team entered qualifying with five sets of soft tyres, allowing both drivers to execute clean push laps in each segment. Russell remained near the front throughout, even briefly holding P2 behind Oscar Piastri before the final flying laps.
With both Mercedes cars starting in the top six and a hot, high-degradation race expected, strategy and tyre management will play a vital role on Sunday. If Russell can get a strong launch and stay in the fight with the McLarens and Red Bull, a top-three result is very much within reach.
“It’s a long race, and anything is possible from here,” said Russell with a grin.
