The Bahrain stress test that Mercedes passed «much better than expected»
In 2024 George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished over 45 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen as the season got under way in Bahrain. Thirteen months on, Russell split the supreme McLarens in second place as the Silver Arrows appeared to pass an important stress test. As Red Bull wrestles with car balance and grip woes […]
Why Russell wasn’t penalised for incorrect DRS activation in Bahrain GP
The FIA has explained why Mercedes driver George Russell escaped punishment for incorrectly activating his DRS mechanism during the Bahrain Grand Prix. Russell was running in second, well behind leader Oscar Piastri, when he began experiencing electronic issues with his Mercedes, losing brake-by-wire and encountering a variety of other distracting gremlins. The British driver also […]
Mercedes’ Russell and Antonelli receive grid drop for Bahrain qualifying error
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli have received a one-place grid drop each for a Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying infraction. Russell loses his front-row spot to Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, while Alpine driver Pierre Gasly is promoted to fourth on the grid at Antonelli’s expense. After Q2 was red flagged for a crash […]
Has Russell’s start to F1 2025 been underrated?
There’s another common denominator beyond Lando Norris on the first two grand prix podiums of 2025: George Russell. He was third in both the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix – and yet, as with Orson Welles in The Third Man, the spotlight has flitted over him briefly before alighting on other targets. Principally that’s because […]
How Antonelli earned ‘driver of the day’ status in Chinese GP
When Formula 1 revealed that Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli had won its driver of the day poll, having crossed the finishing line in eighth place, this news generated the customarily sneering response. When team boss Toto Wolff congratulated his driver over the team radio, the eye-rolling was almost palpable. And yet, while the results […]
Three stripes and you’re in – how Mercedes and adidas finally landed F1 collaboration
Mercedes has been keen to work with adidas for some time and finally a 15-year flirtation has resulted in the German brands uniting ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Alongside the eye-catching fan apparel and the familiar three stripes adorning team gear, there is ongoing technical development that adidas hopes will enable Mercedes to […]
Who are F1 drivers’ race engineers in 2025?
A race engineer has one of the most important roles in any Formula 1 team. It is their job to optimise the performance of the driver-and-car combination. Throughout the race weekend, they translate the feedback coming from the driver into set-up decisions to achieve the best possible result. And, except in rare cases, they are […]
Could Russell’s row with Verstappen spill over into F1 2025?
George Russell’s extraordinary row with Max Verstappen across the final two grands prix of the 2024 Formula 1 season was as explosive as it was unprecedented. Although the end of the campaign cut off the discourse, there is every likelihood that it will erupt again throughout the 2025 season. In a remarkably honest and wide-ranging […]
First Mercedes apparel created by adidas launched ahead of F1 testing
The first Mercedes team wear designed by adidas has been unveiled, while fans of the squad can now also get hold of the latest merchandise. It is the first time adidas has entered F1 and the company has claimed its involvement will “break new ground” by designing each piece of team kit for the individual […]