George Russell has openly criticized the challenges of the Mercedes ground effect era in Formula 1, revealing that he and Lewis Hamilton attempted to demonstrate its dangers through a bold test at the team’s simulator. The “George Russell Mercedes ground effect” experience became notorious for subjecting drivers to intense physical strain, leading to safety interventions from within the team.
Health and Safety Prevent Bold Simulator Demonstration
During a media session, Russell reflected on the extreme physical demands caused by Mercedes’s ground effect cars, which dominated F1 between 2022 and 2024. In an effort to prove their point to car designers, Russell and teammate Lewis Hamilton proposed placing one of their chief designers into a specially equipped simulator. This simulator could recreate the harsh suspension movements felt during a typical lap—especially on tracks known for severe porpoising, such as Baku.
Russell said the idea was quickly dismissed by the team’s health and safety officer due to concerns over the designer’s well-being. The rig, according to Russell, was capable of simulating the jarring forces that drivers regularly endure, illustrating just how punishing the experience could be.
“We’ve got, like, a rig that does simulated replays of a lap, replaying the sort of suspension movements from the chassis side,”
Russell began when speaking with PlanetF1.com and other accredited media outlets.
Russell explained that both he and Hamilton wanted to use the simulator to vividly show engineers how aggressive the porpoising problem was, especially on challenging circuits. The health and safety officer, however, intervened and deemed the test too dangerous for anyone not accustomed to the forces F1 drivers survive during a race.
Describing the experience, Russell noted the hour-and-a-half duration of a race felt like being shaken violently, affecting the driver’s back, body, and even vision. He recalled struggling to see brake marker boards during a high-speed race in Las Vegas because the car hit the ground so intensely at about 240 miles an hour. Many F1 drivers, Russell said, suffered similarly.
“I spoke with a few drivers, and half the grid was the same. So yeah, glad we’re moving away from this.”
– George Russell, Mercedes F1 Driver
Looking Ahead to 2026: Significant Regulation Changes
Formula 1 will enter a new era in 2026, leaving behind the brutal ground effect regulations. These changes will bring smaller, lighter cars with advanced active aerodynamics and new engine technologies using a 50/50 blend of electricity and sustainable biofuels. Fans can expect a strategic and technical overhaul throughout the grid.
While Russell found the previous generation of cars demanding, the performance results did not always reflect the struggle. Despite sharing the Mercedes garage with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, Russell outscored his legendary teammate in two out of their three seasons together (2022 and 2024). The 2025 season, in particular, marked a career highlight for Russell, with two Grand Prix wins and a reputation for strong, consistent performances.
Reflecting on his first year at Mercedes and in the ground effect era, Russell shared a sense of accomplishment and adaptation.
“I was very happy with ’22, because it was obviously my first year at Mercedes, first year teammates with Lewis, and that was like a test for me to see how I was going to perform,”
said Russell.
Russell explained that competing alongside Hamilton, who in his opinion delivered “the best performances” ever seen in 2021, made the transition especially challenging. Yet, by 2025, Russell believes he reached new heights with more points, podiums, and fewer errors than ever before.
“But obviously this year [2025] for more points, more podiums, more consistency, less mistakes. So on the whole, this has, without doubt, been my strongest year.”
– George Russell, Mercedes F1 Driver
Mercedes’ Ambitions for the New F1 Era
As Mercedes prepares to challenge for the title in the first year under the new F1 regulations, George Russell will be joined by young talent Kimi Antonelli. The team’s leadership and technical staff, including the chief designers previously considered for the simulator test, will redirect their focus toward adapting to the rapidly evolving landscape of Formula 1. The experience from the ground effect era will inform both safety and performance improvements as the sport embarks on its boldest technological shift in years.
