Speed was not on George Russell’s side this past weekend. Faced with an “absolutely terrible” Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Mercedes is now on a mission to decode what went awry with his W16 car.
Russell, who had his toughest race of the F1 2025 season yet, landed in seventh place at Imola. It was far from the performance Mercedes had anticipated, and the frustration was evident in Russell’s summary of the race. Now, Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, has announced plans to conduct a thorough “check” and “scan” of his car ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. It seems Mercedes is determined to uncover the root cause of the mystery issue that hampered their driver’s performance.
Meanwhile, the spotlight was also shining on Lewis Hamilton, who traded in his old leathers for Ferrari’s signature red at the beginning of the season. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix saw Hamilton sport new sponsorship from an AI company called Perplexity. With their logos emblazoned on his helmet, Hamilton drove to his best finish of the year, clinching fourth place. Unlike Russell, Hamilton seems to be finding his groove and pushing into new territory with his new team, Ferrari.
Not everyone is convinced that Hamilton’s new chapter has a deep emotional impact just yet. 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve suggested that racing for Ferrari in Italy is not quite a passionate affair for Hamilton, at least not like his famed races at Silverstone. According to Villeneuve, the shift to Ferrari is yet to become personal for Hamilton, but fans can only wonder how long that remains the case.
As the paddock buzzes with these developments, McLaren, the current championship leaders, has announced they will rock a special livery at the Monaco GP. This design, inspired by Bruce McLaren’s first win in the M7A car, carries a nostalgia that links the team to its historic roots while partnering with OKX for this endeavor. McLaren’s decision highlights their ability to merge modern-day racing with the rich heritage of the sport.
Amidst all these racing revelations, Ron Dennis, the stalwart of McLaren’s historic success, has clarified his longstanding plan to leave the team at 70. Although the separation occurred in 2017 under controversial circumstances, Dennis remains steadfast in his assertion that the decision was planned, setting the record straight on what has been perceived as an acrimonious split.
As the excitement builds for the Monaco Grand Prix, teams are gearing up with new strategies and designs. Mercedes is focused on resolving Russell’s setbacks, while Hamilton and McLaren push forward with fresh alliances and a nod to tradition. The F1 season continues to serve up surprises and insightful narratives, keeping fans eagerly watching each twist and turn.
