Russell backs Mercedes comeback in Spain after ‘two poor races’

George Russell is confident about Mercedes’ prospects for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, believing the team will return to the front-running mix after what he described as “two poor races” in Imola and Monaco.

Mercedes enjoyed a promising start to the 2025 season, consistently placing inside the top five through the opening rounds.

However, the Brackley squad’s momentum took a hit at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, where Russell fell from third to seventh, and teammate Kimi Antonelli retired due to a mechanical issue.

The difficulties only deepened in Monaco, where qualifying woes left both drivers far down the grid and effectively out of contention on race day.

Monaco Weekend Over on Saturday

“It was a real shame because we lost our way slightly during the weekend in Monaco,” Russell told the media on Thursday in Barcelona.

“But we went back to a known set-up in Q1 and we were right back in the groove, right back inside the top four which is where we’ve been always on Saturday afternoons this year, so that was a real shame.”

The Briton ultimately finished the race 11th, with Antonelli ending up 18th. But the 27-year-old is determined to see Mercedes rebound in Spain, where the team scored a strong double-points finish in 2024.

“It’s obviously been two poor races,” he admitted. “We’ve been inside of the top five every single session up until Imola, so we’re hoping to get back into our usual form and have a clean weekend.

“With the changes to the front wing [regulation], there’s a bit of relearning all of the teams will have to take, but I don’t expect it to shake the order up too much.”

Eyes on a Top-Five Return

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has historically been a stronghold for Mercedes, and Russell is confident that – with a trouble-free outing – the team can re-enter the battle near the front.

“Yeah, I don’t see any reason why not,” he said.

“As I said, up until Imola we’ve been inside that top five every single quali and race, and of course Imola was a bad race and Monaco things [were] slightly out of our control.

“So I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t be back in that fight for the top five.

“Hopefully [we’ll be] fighting for the podium, but we do know our race pace especially in hot races is a step behind McLaren, and this weekend is going to be very hot.

“The track’s going to be over 50 degrees for the majority of the weekend, the only difference being here is we’re on the harder compound of tyres, whereas in Imola and in Jeddah where we struggled the most this season it was on the softest compound of tyres, so that’s one small change.”

Antonelli Looking to Regain Form After Difficult Stretch

Antonelli echoed Russell’s determination. The young Italian has shown flashes of potential this year but acknowledged the need to find consistency after two tough rounds.

“[The first part of the season] definitely went by super quick – it’s great to think we’re already on Round 9, so time went by super quick,” commented the 18-year-old.

“It’s been a lot of highs, a lot of lows as well. It’s about now trying to find that consistency and trying to put everything together.

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“I think the last two weekends on my side were not the best, also especially struggling with the new C6 [tyre compound], but this weekend [we go] back to more usual compounds, and hopefully we can get back to the nice rhythm that we had before Imola.”

With Spain providing a more conventional racing environment and more familiar tyre compounds, both Russell and Antonelli are aiming to get Mercedes back on track.

A return to the top five – or even a podium fight – would signal a critical rebound for the eight-time F1 Constructors’ Champions as they continue to evolve their 2025 campaign.

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