George Russell has conceded that Mercedes won’t be back on top in Formula 1 in 2025, despite the team’s plan to introduce updates across the upcoming two races.
Mercedes goes into the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend embroiled in a close battle over second in the Constructors’ Championship as it lies 12 points behind Ferrari.
The two long-time rivals have been unable to trouble McLaren, though, as the reigning champions uphold a handsome 238-point advantage with 12 rounds remaining.
Russell ensured Mercedes won’t endure a winless campaign when he triumphed in Canada, but McLaren has responded with emphatic victories in Austria and Britain.
The race in Silverstone saw Russell squander his podium chances on home soil when he headed the group who made an ill-timed swap to slicks on the formation lap.
However, the Briton has insisted he harbours no regrets over the gamble amid the acknowledgement that Mercedes don’t possess the pace to beat McLaren on merit.
“It’s one of those,” he told Sky Sports F1. “If you’ve got the car pace, you can afford to play it safe and doesn’t matter what you do, you’re going to come out on top. If you don’t, it’s so tight between everybody else.
“Now, if you want a good result, you do need to be a little bit brave. And it’s as brave staying out on the track and not pitting as it is to pit.”
Asked when Mercedes will be back in contention, Russell answered: “Hopefully soon, but unfortunately this year, we know we’re not in the fight with McLaren.
“They’re the dominant team. You know, we’re doing everything we can to get the team back on top, but it’s not going to be this year.”
Mercedes continuing 2025 development push
But despite new technical rules providing a reset in 2026, Mercedes still has new parts waiting to be unleashed on the W16 in the two races before the summer break.
“It’s been a pretty bruising double header to be honest with Austria and then Silverstone as well,” Mercedes Chief Communications Officer Bradley Lord conceded.
“We’ve just got one fifth place finish to show for our efforts and one 10th place finish, so well below our expectations.
“First and foremost, it is to put ourselves on a much better footing and demonstrate the full performance potential of the car and after that we’ve got updates coming.
“So we need make some decisions on what the spec of the car will be for Spa and then also we’ve got some performance updates coming in both Spa and Hungary. So opportunities to make step forwards there.
“Likewise, we’ve got a Sprint weekend in Spa, so just one practice session and then we’ve got to be right on it and straight into qualifying.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re hopeful of being able to give a much better showing than we did either in Silverstone or in Austria last week.”
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