George Russell is banking on cooler weather to turn the tide for Mercedes at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, admitting that Mercedes’ W16 challenger is still too dependent on external conditions for performance – particularly heat.
With ambient and track temperatures peaking during Friday’s practice sessions, Mercedes endured a mixed opening day at their home Grand Prix. Russell ended FP2 in eighth place, while teammate Kimi Antonelli placed sixth – albeit over half a second off pace-setter Lando Norris in the McLaren.
The Brackley outfit’s car has consistently struggled for grip and balance in hot conditions this season, and with Saturday and Sunday forecast to be markedly cooler, Russell sees a potential turnaround on the horizon.
“Well after today, not very close but it’s been a little bit warmer today. The track was 40 degrees and the rest of the weekend it cools down,” Russell said.
“It’s a little bit frustrating for us that every single week we’re at the mercy of the weather and we need to improve that, especially with now we’re entering the summer months.”
“We’re doing everything we can to improve it. I think our fortunes will turn slightly through the rest of the weekend and it will come towards us.”
“We can’t be at the mercy of the weather, and we are right now.”
©Mercedes
Russell’s frustration reflects a broader theme of Mercedes’ 2025 campaign: competitiveness hampered by inconsistent performance windows. The team’s only win this season came in Montreal – a race held in cooler conditions that flattered the W16’s setup and aerodynamic profile.
Silverstone presents a similar opportunity, with overcast skies and a drop in track temperature expected for the weekend. But Friday’s heat proved difficult once again for the team’s setup.
“The car didn’t feel too bad”
Antonelli, who faces a three-place grid penalty following his incident in Austria, showed stronger form in FP2 and expressed measured optimism.
“It was not the easiest of the day,” said the 18-year-old rookie.
“I am having quite a lot of pleasure driving around here. Today, temperatures were quite a bit higher than expected. Overall, I have to be honest, the car didn’t feel too bad.
“Obviously, there’s a bit of work to do and on the driving as well. I think tomorrow is hopefully going to be a lot cooler — that’s what the forecast is saying. Let’s see what we can do.”
Shovlin: Rear Tyre Overheating a Limiting Factor
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin echoed both drivers’ observations, confirming that high temperatures and gusty winds complicated the team’s Friday running.
“We opted to only run the Medium and Soft compounds today, like most other teams,” said Shovlin. “We were able to complete plenty of single lap and long run work but were limited by rear tyre overheating.
©Mercedes
“Silverstone puts a lot of energy into the tyre, and we saw track temperatures around 40°C, so the phenomenon was not completely unexpected, but it proved to be our main constraint on the long runs, alongside a tricky car balance in the gusty conditions.”
Despite the setbacks, Shovlin stressed that improvements are possible overnight.
Read also:
Sainz warns Russell: Mercedes rumors ‘noise’ that could distract“We will need to make a step overnight to be able to challenge at the front this weekend, and we have several areas we are already targeting to do that.
“We will work diligently trackside and in the simulator at Brackley this evening to find gains ahead of FP3 and Qualifying tomorrow.”
As Mercedes chases Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship — currently just one point ahead — their hopes of a strong result on home soil may well hinge on the drop in temperature Russell is counting on.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
Russell frustrated Mercedes ‘still at the mercy of the weather’ F1i.com.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Russell frustrated Mercedes ‘still at the mercy of the weather’ )
Also on site :