- George Russell acknowledges the scrutiny Mercedes has faced.
- The team aims for continued progress under new regulations.
- Russell highlights the competitive landscape of Formula 1.
- Mercedes’ recent performance marks a step forward.
- Toto Wolff addresses the team’s past upgrade issues.
George Russell admits that Mercedes has been under heavy scrutiny over the last few years, especially following the ground effect regulations that ended their domination. Despite the challenges, Russell notes that every team, except Red Bull, has faced difficulties. He mentions, “If I’m being honest, I think there’s been a lot of scrutiny upon the team in these three years. I think everybody’s had some challenges along the way. Take Red Bull out of the equation, who have found themselves on a great path and been able to do it.”
Russell points out that while Ferrari and McLaren also faced their own challenges, neither is currently fighting for the championship. He illustrates this by saying, “Ferrari were well ahead of us in 2022. They fell behind us in ’23 and now they’re just ahead, but they’re still not fighting for the championship right now. And McLaren had a tough couple of years. Now they’re back at the front where they were 15 years ago.”
Mercedes has only secured one victory since the inception of Formula 1’s ground effect era in 2022. However, their performance at the recent Canadian Grand Prix, where Russell was in contention for the win, indicates significant progress for the team. Russell believes this is part of the sport’s inherent challenges, “This is Formula 1, it’s bloody challenging. And there’s so many great teams and designers up and down this field.”
Regarding Mercedes’ development, Toto Wolff described the team’s progression as “zig-zagging.” Over the years, the team faced issues with upgrades that created “false dawns.” Russell agrees, noting that the team’s approach to changes has steadied, reducing the magnitude of their adjustments. “I think those zig-zags have maybe reduced in magnitude over these years,” Russell mentioned. “And I think we recognized small changes can bring big performance.”
Russell expresses optimism for the 2026 regulations, hoping they will level the playing field and allow drivers to showcase their abilities more equally. He commented, “I hope 2026, it’s not as variable, because as drivers, you all want kind of an equal opportunity to showcase your abilities and battle it out on track.”
As Mercedes aims for consistency, the team’s recent improvements hint at a promising future.
