In the context of the Belgian Grand Prix, George Russell, Mercedes driver, has acknowledged that his speed deficit against teammate Kimi Antonelli is not solely due to his driving style. Although he initially thought that his driving style was the main issue, he now believes there is a “serious issue” that the engineers at his team need to address.
After the qualifying session, where he finished 0.508 seconds off Antonelli’s fastest lap, Russell commented that the difference in straight-line speed cannot be attributed solely to his driving style. “Yesterday [during FP1 and FP2] I was losing eight tenths on the straights; today I’ve lost four tenths,” he stated.
These difficulties began to become evident at Silverstone, where after several initial assumptions about the cause of the deficit, such as problems with the brakes or his own driving technique, the team is now searching for answers in a deeper defect. “Every lap I do and see that I’m losing between two and a half tenths on the straights, it’s frustrating,” Russell added.
Changes in the technical regulations for 2026 have caused an unexpected interaction between chassis dynamics and driving style, affecting drivers’ ability to recover energy. In circuits like Silverstone and Spa, where there are a limited number of corners to gather energy, these effects are amplified. Mercedes engineers have speculated that his driving style, which involves braking later and more aggressively, could be causing premature electric charge depletion.
However, both Russell and the team are now realizing that the problem is more complex. “I’ve been focused on straight-line speed and not on setup or tires,” he said. An analysis of his times indicates that the main deficit occurs on the straight between Blanchimont and the chicane, along with a slight delay at corner 14—Campus.
The team principal, Toto Wolff, suggested that the performance difference could be caused by a newer engine in Antonelli’s car. “George is obviously suffering from a lack of straight-line speed and we can’t fully explain it. We’ve left no stone unturned in analyzing what’s going on,” Wolff commented. The situation is a major concern for Mercedes, which continues to search for a solution to this enigma before the next Grand Prix.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
