Following a breakthrough performance in Canada, the Mercedes Formula One Team has struggled considerably, finishing far from the podium for three consecutive race weekends in Austria, Great Britain, and Belgium. Despite the raw speed and qualifying talent of driver George Russell, who managed to secure some notable results, the team’s overall points haul—just 12 points across these three races—highlights the ongoing difficulties faced by Mercedes in the final year of its current technical cycle. Rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s triple zero points finishes also underline the challenging circumstances within the team.
George Russell openly admitted that the technical directive introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, aimed at regulating flexible front wings, forced Mercedes to implement countermeasures that ultimately compromised their car’s performance. “We took a slightly different approach to tackle the issue caused by the front wing changes, and clearly since then we’ve taken a big step backwards,” Russell explained in an interview with planetf1.com. “Perhaps we simply need to revert to our pre-Barcelona setup to try and find the solution again, although we obviously cannot change the front wing. We are missing rear stability, and the car has become more difficult to drive, which is why both Andrea and I are making more mistakes.”
Russell’s suggestion to return to the pre-Barcelona setup is not a straightforward fix. The front wing is a crucial aerodynamic component that directs airflow across the entire car, especially under the current regulations emphasizing ground effect aerodynamics. Any changes here have a profound impact on balance and handling.
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ Head of Track Operations, added context by pointing out that the technical directive is not the sole cause of Mercedes’ recent troubles. “At the start of the season, we had a car that worked well on almost every circuit. Typically, in qualifying, we were fighting for second row positions and sometimes even the front row,” Andrew Shovlin commented. “The technical directive on the wings disrupted the car’s balance and stability for many teams. In Canada, we managed to be very competitive, and we believe we can replicate that performance at other circuits. We simply need to find the solution, which is currently eluding us.”
Shovlin further explained that Mercedes took the wrong path after the technical directive and that the team is actively analyzing why they lost stability during corner entry. “We will consult closely with our drivers and plan to implement corrective updates starting at the Hungarian Grand Prix to try to identify and resolve the problem.”
Mercedes’ recent slump serves as a reminder of the challenges that come with adapting to mid-season regulatory changes, especially when those changes impact such critical aerodynamic elements. With 11 races left in the 2025 season, the team is under pressure to find solutions and return to the front of the grid.
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