Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell has been battling illness throughout the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, yet his health issues have not prevented him from participating in the race. Despite missing media events and the drivers’ briefing, Russell was able to take part in all practice sessions and was prepared to race on Sunday.
Russell was absent from media day on Thursday due to feeling unwell, a condition confirmed by Mercedes. He also missed other media obligations on Friday and was granted an exemption by the circuit’s medical delegate from attending the drivers’ briefing, where weekend rules are typically discussed. Nevertheless, Russell completed all three practice sessions, providing valuable feedback during the third practice on Saturday morning.
Details on Russell’s Condition and Race Readiness
Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz gave insight into Russell’s condition following FP3. Kravitz described Russell as a “ghost driver” over the weekend, noting the British driver entered the event with a fever and a sore throat that made communication difficult on Friday. However, by Saturday, Russell had shown enough improvement to even critique the car’s performance over team radio.
“He’s been somewhat of a ghost driver this weekend,”
Kravitz said.
“He came into the weekend with a fever, with a sore throat, could barely talk on the radio on Friday but the fact that he was feeling well enough to be complaining on the radio about the car just shows you how much he’s improved overnight.”
“It’s a sore throat, it’s a fever, we don’t know if it’s anything more than that, we don’t know if it’s the kind of illness that would’ve seen him ruled out of racing a few years ago, but whatever’s wrong with him, it hasn’t been affecting his driving,”
he added.
Impact on Mercedes Team Plans and Bottas’ Role
Russell’s ability to compete means that Mercedes will not require the assistance of reserve driver Valtteri Bottas for the race. Once a driver participates in qualifying—as Russell did—teams are not permitted to substitute them, a rule highlighted by Aston Martin’s situation at the Spanish Grand Prix, where they ran only one car after Lance Stroll’s injury.
Bottas, who raced full-time for Mercedes from 2017 to 2021 with 10 wins to his name, has yet to rejoin the team in a grand prix capacity. He is scheduled to join Cadillac in 2026, partnering Sergio Perez as they enter Formula 1 as the sport’s 11th team.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Russell and Mercedes
George Russell’s condition during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix signals a challenging moment for both him and Mercedes, demonstrating resilience in the face of illness. His determination to continue racing despite a fever highlights his commitment and could influence how teams manage driver health in high-pressure situations moving forward. With no need to replace Russell, Mercedes can focus on maximizing their performance as the season continues.
