Mercedes driver admits ongoing issues with car performance as temperatures rise, calling for urgent solutions ahead of summer races.
George Russell Voices Concern Over Mercedes’ Ongoing Struggles Ahead of Monaco GP
George Russell has expressed mounting concern over Mercedes’ persistent performance issues following a disappointing result at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where he finished in seventh place—his lowest result of the 2025 season so far.
Starting from third on the grid at Imola, Russell slipped down the order and was ultimately unable to challenge for a podium. Speaking after the race, the British driver pointed to a long-standing issue with the team’s car performance that appears to be temperature-related.
“The pattern is obvious,” Russell said. “When it’s cold, we’re competitive. When it’s warm, we struggle. This isn’t a new problem—it’s something we’ve seen since last year.”
Despite Mercedes introducing updated front suspension and aerodynamic components for the Imola weekend, the upgrades failed to deliver a significant boost. Russell admitted that the problems may be more deeply rooted than previously thought.
“We’ve tried everything possible in terms of setup, but there’s clearly something fundamental baked into the car’s design,” he explained.
Russell currently sits fourth in the drivers’ standings, 47 points behind leader Oscar Piastri. Despite lacking the outright pace of McLaren and Red Bull, the Brit has still managed to secure four podium finishes in the first seven races of the season.
“It’s not the first race where we’ve been behind Ferrari or even level with teams like Williams,” he noted. “But we’ve somehow salvaged results through consistency and strategy.”
Mercedes’ situation is further complicated by Kimi Antonelli’s retirement from the Imola race due to a throttle issue. Still, the team remains second in the Constructors’ Championship—though a daunting 132 points adrift of McLaren.
Reflecting on their trajectory, Russell emphasized the urgency of finding solutions before the summer races.
“We’re not out of ideas just yet, but the issue seems embedded. Ferrari went through something similar years ago—they had great one-lap speed but poor race pace, and even they weren’t sure why,” he said. “We need to find a balance and act fast. With the Monaco Grand Prix just around the corner, time isn’t on our side.”
Formula 1’s European triple-header continues with the iconic Monaco GP, set for May 23-25.
