George Russell experienced a difficult qualifying session at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, marking a frustrating continuation of Mercedes’ performance issues this season. Russell qualified 13th for the sprint race, his worst grid position of the year, and despite making it to Q3 in grand prix qualifying, he managed only sixth place, over half a second behind pole position.
Last year, Russell was denied victory at Spa due to a technical disqualification, and this year’s struggles have added to the team‘s growing frustrations. His poor sprint race result left him stuck in a DRS train behind Yuki Tsunoda‘s Red Bull, finishing 12th after benefitting only from a last-minute withdrawal by Pierre Gasly’s Alpine.
Mercedes’ Struggles Evident in Both Drivers’ Qualifying
Russell’s teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, experienced an even tougher day, being knocked out in Q1 and now facing a pitlane start for the race. Mercedes’ overall pace deficit was apparent, with Russell himself admitting the team’s performance had declined significantly compared to earlier rounds.
And, other than yesterday, this is my worst qualification of the year – same for Kimi [Antonelli] so we need to understand what’s going on.
—George Russell, Mercedes driver
Limited Setup Changes Reflect Mercedes’ Turbulent Sprint Weekend Strategy
Due to the compressed schedule and limited practice during sprint race weekends, Mercedes opted for minimal adjustments to Russell’s car between the sprint and grand prix qualifying to avoid disruptive changes. This conservative approach acknowledges that radical setup overhauls rarely deliver improvements in this format.
Historically, on sprint race weekends, if you have a bad sprint, if you turn the car upside down for the next day, it rarely works,
Russell explained.
So we made some sensible changes, but we just need to understand – the first six races of the year, we had four podiums, now we’ve had one in the last six, and clearly we’ve taken a big step backwards towards the midfield.
—George Russell, Mercedes driver
Season Performance: From Early Promise to Midfield Concerns
Earlier in the 2025 season, Russell had impressed with consistent podium finishes, including a remarkable second place in Bahrain despite significant car difficulties. However, the team’s form has slipped notably in recent races. Russell’s previous win in Canada was aided by an unexpected crash within the McLaren team, highlighting how competitive peaks have become more sporadic for Mercedes.
While Mercedes initially maintained more consistent performances compared to rivals like Red Bull, their relative pace has dipped, now resembling midfield contenders rather than front runners.
Complex Race Strategy Amid New Tyre Rules and Weather Forecasts
The strategic landscape at Spa is further complicated by Pirelli’s introduction of a performance gap between the hard and medium tyres, discouraging one-stop race strategies. Weather forecasts for race day suggest a high likelihood of rain and cooler conditions, reducing the chances that the hard compound tyre will have a role, even if the track remains predominantly dry.
The expected optimal strategy involves a two-stop plan: starting on soft tyres, then switching to medium compounds. Mercedes faces additional challenges as both drivers qualified with low downforce setups, which may compromise their race pace in wet conditions.
In stint one there won’t be any more overtakes [than in the sprint race],
Russell noted.
But of course when you pit, if it’s dry, nobody knows if this hard tyre will be a good tyre or not, and that may force people for a two-stop, people might try the one-stop, so always when you have a variety of strategy, options appear. But it looks to be wet – wet races often create some carnage as well…
—George Russell, Mercedes driver
Implications for Mercedes as the Season Approaches Its Midpoint
Mercedes’ poor qualifying outcome and overall performance dip raise serious questions about their competitiveness heading into the latter half of the season. With rival teams like Red Bull and Aston Martin continuing to pressure at the front, Mercedes must quickly identify and address the causes behind their setbacks.
Russell’s candid remarks point to growing tension within the team as they struggle to regain their early-season form. How Mercedes adapts to changing track conditions and tyre strategies at Spa, and in the subsequent races, will be critical to their championship ambitions.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is George Russell 63?
A. Russell collected his number 63 from the go-kart his brother had rented then.
Q. Why is George Russell number 63?
A. George Russell, who drives car number 63, has a personal connection to this number. He shared that “63” was originally his brother’s racing number.
