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George Russell Warns Mercedes Faces Summer Struggles in 2025 F1 Season

After a disappointing P7 finish at Imola, Russell says heat continues to expose fundamental flaws in Mercedes’ car despite new upgrades
May 20, 2025
George Russell

George Russell has voiced growing concerns about Mercedes’ 2025 Formula 1 campaign, revealing that the team’s latest upgrades aren’t solving a persistent issue — their car struggles when the weather heats up. Speaking after a tough weekend at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, the British driver admitted that Mercedes may not be ready to challenge at the front as the season enters the hotter summer stretch.

From P3 to P7 – A Frustrating Imola for Russell

Russell started third on the grid at Imola but ended the race in seventh — his worst finish of the season so far. Despite new upgrades, including a redesigned front wing and front suspension, Mercedes couldn’t maintain their pace under warmer track conditions. Russell was clearly frustrated after the race, describing it as another missed opportunity.

“We’ve seen the trend — when it’s hot, we’re slow. When it’s cold, we’re quick. That’s exactly what happened last year too,” Russell told Sky Sports F1.

Setup Changes Not Enough

Mercedes had hoped the latest upgrades would help turn their season around, but George Russell believes the problem runs deeper than just setup or race strategy. He pointed to a more serious flaw within the car’s design that affects tyre performance depending on the temperature.

“We’ve tried everything with the setup, but there’s clearly something more fundamental wrong with the car,” he said.

Championship Hopes in Trouble?

Russell currently sits fourth in the Drivers’ Standings, 47 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. Though he has secured four podiums in the first six races, the Imola result exposed Mercedes’ limitations.

“It’s not the first time we’ve been slower than Ferrari — or even close to Williams,” he admitted. “We just got lucky in previous races. Honestly, we were lucky to even finish P7 today.”

Rookie Struggles and a Growing Gap

Mercedes’ second driver, Kimi Antonelli, didn’t have a great weekend either. The Italian rookie was forced to retire from his home race due to a throttle issue. Despite their struggles, Mercedes is still second in the Constructors’ Championship — but they trail McLaren by a massive 132 points.

Tyre Troubles Continue

Russell pointed out that Mercedes is still battling the same issues that plagued their 2024 season — tyre performance that shifts drastically depending on the weather. The car works well in cooler races, but pace drops significantly as temperatures rise.

“We’re not out of ideas yet, but it feels like this issue is baked into the car,” he said.

Looking Ahead: Time to Act Fast

Drawing a comparison with Ferrari’s past inconsistency — where they shifted from being strong in qualifying to more reliable in races — Russell said Mercedes also needs to find the right balance soon.

“We’re heading into the summer. It doesn’t look good for us unless we find a quick fix,” he warned. “We need to compromise better and react fast before it’s too late.”