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George Russell Reflects on Mercedes’ Strategy for 2025 Car Development

George Russell has emphasized that his Mercedes Formula 1 team is adopting a cautious and methodical approach in the development of their 2025 race car. This comes after a challenging journey since the inception of F1’s ground-effect regulations in 2022, where Mercedes struggled to find its competitive footing.

The onset of the ground-effect era saw Mercedes grapple with severe issues, notably bouncing, or porpoising, which plagued many aspects of their performance throughout the 2022 season. This challenge took a significant toll on the team’s ability to compete consistently, hindering both Russell and teammate Lewis Hamilton from consistently challenging for race victories.

Despite securing two race wins each in 2024 and showing considerable improvement, Mercedes found itself still in fourth place, trailing teams like McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull. The struggles highlighted the necessity for a more sustainable and long-term perspective in car development.

During the recent F1 75 launch event held in London, Russell revealed that the team has consciously shifted its mentality, steering clear of quick fixes that previously had unintended consequences. “I’m much more confident we’re not going to fall into a trap as we have in previous years,” Russell stated. He recognized that past efforts to address immediate problems sometimes led to new complications.

“We’ve been forward-thinking much more than we have done in the past,” he noted. This strategic pivot involves thoroughly understanding how changes in aerodynamics or car handling could impact overall performance. By anticipating potential issues at different circuits, Mercedes aims to implement solutions that are resilient rather than merely reactive.

Russell also pointed out that the team is avoiding making premature predictions about whether their updates for 2025 will be sufficient to enhance their performance. With teams currently making strategic decisions on how to allocate their resources for the upcoming 2025 and the completely new regulations set for 2026, he remains cautiously optimistic about the improvements made so far.

“It’s going to be a significant change this year,” Russell mentioned. “We have been a lot more disciplined with every change we’ve made.” He highlighted the increased rigor in simulation running to ensure that the team is well-prepared and that alterations made on the car do not introduce new challenges. While acknowledging the uncertainty about how rival teams are progressing, Russell sees an intriguing season ahead concerning resource deployment.

With Mercedes keen on evolving their strategy, Russell’s insights reflect a broader commitment to learning from past experiences while fostering innovation as they gear up for the challenges of the 2025 season.

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