George Russell believes McLaren will remain strong in Spain, despite upcoming rule changes targeting flexible front wings in Formula 1.
Russell doesn’t expect McLaren’s recent strong form to take a hit when Formula 1’s new regulations on flexible front wings come into effect at the Spanish Grand Prix.
While some teams might be impacted by the updated tests for wing flexibility, McLaren’s performance edge doesn’t seem to come from its aero tricks. According to Russell, the real strength of the MCL39 lies elsewhere, in its ability to manage tire temperatures better than the competition.
“The weekend in Barcelona will be interesting with the regulation changes, but McLaren’s advantage isn’t in the areas these rules target. Their real strength is tire management,” the Mercedes driver explained, echoing recent comments from team bosses.
McLaren’s control over tire temperatures, especially at the rear, has been a key factor behind its race-day performances this season. While their one-lap pace is similar to that of Red Bull and Mercedes, it’s over race distance, especially in hot conditions, that McLaren truly shines.
At the Miami Grand Prix, McLaren pulled clear of the field under scorching track temperatures. Oscar Piastri noted how the conditions played into their hands, with the car maintaining its grip and consistency while others struggled with degradation. By the end, Russell was over 30 seconds behind.
“In the race, everything slows down just a bit more in each corner, and tire care becomes even more important. That’s been one of our strengths this season,” Piastri said. “Miami was the hottest race of the year so far, and I think that definitely helped us.”
Still, even rival teams aren’t entirely sure how McLaren is pulling it off.
“If we knew exactly how they do it, we’d already be matching them,” Russell admitted. “We’re working on improvements, but I don’t think it will be enough to reach their level just yet.”
He added that Mercedes isn’t comfortably the second-best team on the grid.
“I’m proud of the results we’ve had, but we need to raise our performance. Our best weekend was probably in China, but even then, McLaren beat us by over 10 seconds. On their best days, they’re ahead by 40.”
Mercedes Set to Unleash Major W16 Upgrades Soon
Mercedes prepares key upgrades for the W16 as it looks to gain ground during the high-stakes European leg of the season.
Mercedes hasn’t been sitting still this season. Technical director James Allison has confirmed that while the W16 has already received several updates, more significant changes are on the way as the European leg of the calendar gets underway.
“We have brought some improvements,” Allison explained. “They haven’t been massive or particularly eye-catching, but they’ve arrived in small steps. In the next few races, we’ll introduce changes that should be more obvious to those watching from the outside.”
With the season now well underway, teams are under pressure to develop quickly. Allison admitted that the current race schedule makes it tough to bring big upgrades, but he’s hopeful that what’s coming will make a real difference.
“We’re already a quarter of the way through the season. The races are coming thick and fast, so it’s actually quite challenging to keep improving the car,” he said. “But I’m optimistic that what we have planned over the next few races will help move us forward. At the same time, we’re continuing to work on tire temperature management during races, which is another key area for improvement.”
While Allison expects the updates to give the W16 a boost in qualifying, he made it clear that’s not the main priority.
“We’ve been relatively strong in qualifying this year, so I think we can still expect to start near the front. The upgrades might improve that slightly, but our main focus is on race pace,” he said. “It’s about making sure the car performs just as well on Sunday as it does on Saturday. That means managing tire temperatures effectively and allowing the car to consistently deliver the pace it’s capable of.”
Why Williams Refused to Let Russell Join Mercedes
In 2021, Williams held firm on George Russell’s contract, despite pressure from Mercedes and growing calls for his promotion.
Back in 2021, as Valtteri Bottas struggled at Mercedes and George Russell was shining at Williams with standout performances, many in the paddock were wondering why Russell wasn’t promoted to partner Lewis Hamilton.
The speculation was even stronger considering Russell’s impressive one-off appearance for Mercedes at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. But Claire Williams has now revealed that it was Williams, not Mercedes, who stopped the move.
Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, the former deputy team principal explained that she simply couldn’t afford to let her star driver go.
“George wanted to join Mercedes for two years, and I couldn’t let him leave. I hated that decision,” Williams admitted. “It still upsets me to think about it. But I needed him more than Mercedes did. He was under contract, and he was the best thing we had.”
She explained that releasing Russell at that moment would have sent the wrong message to her team.
“If I had let him go, what would that have told the people working at Williams? George was one of the most important pieces of our puzzle. If Mercedes wanted him, they needed to make it right. And when they didn’t, I couldn’t justify just letting him walk away.”
“It was really hard. George was clearly frustrated, and it was difficult for me to hold my ground. But I had to put the team first. That’s one of the hardest parts of leading an F1 team.”
Williams said that despite wanting to support Russell’s dream, she believed staying would shape his character.
“I always told him, one day you’ll be thankful for this. It will make you stronger, more resilient.”
Today, Russell is a race winner and a team leader at Mercedes. His rise has only confirmed what Claire Williams saw in him from the start.
“I’ve worked with great drivers like Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas, and I rated them all highly. But George had something extra. I always believed he could become a world champion.”
“I’ve watched him this season, and he’s operating on another level. It’s like what we’ve seen with Max Verstappen in recent years. These drivers reach a point where they enter a zone, a mindset, where they become superstars.”
“I saw a video of George in the gym the other day, and he looked like the Terminator. That’s when you know a driver has stepped into the next phase of their career.”
Russell Paid Back £2M to Dad for F1 Dream, No Regrets
George Russell reveals he repaid £2M to his father, reflecting on sacrifice, loneliness, and success in the high-stakes world of F1.
“You give up a lot to make it to Formula 1”
Mercedes driver George Russell has revealed the emotional and financial sacrifices behind his rise to Formula 1, including a promise he made as a teenager that changed everything.
In a rare, personal insight, Russell spoke about the 2 million euros his father, Steve Russell, invested in his career, money given with one clear condition: pay it back. Years later, Russell kept his word.
“I’ve repaid every single cent my parents put into helping me chase this dream,” he said. “They pushed me hard, and I’ve always felt it was right to give back.”
Russell admitted the journey came at a cost beyond just money. While the financial support from his parents helped him reach the top tier of motorsport, it also shaped his personal life in profound ways.
“Did my dad wish we were closer growing up? Maybe. But those years made me who I am,” he reflected.
Now in his seventh full F1 season and already a Grand Prix winner, Russell is living proof that the gamble paid off. Yet behind the glamour and speed, there’s another side to the story, one that speaks to the emotional isolation of being a top-level athlete.
“Most F1 drivers have sacrificed a lot. I left school at 13. Honestly, I don’t have many friends,” he shared. “It can be a lonely life. You’re always in different countries, different time zones, different hotel rooms.”
Russell described the emotional rollercoaster that follows each race weekend:
“Mondays feel like emotional hangovers. Whether you win or lose, it hits you. I play padel to keep my mind off things, it’s better than doom-scrolling on social media.”
One constant in his life has been his relationship with Carmen Montero Mundt, whom he credits as a vital source of balance and emotional strength.
“Carmen’s amazing. I’m lucky to have her. She’s my anchor in a world that’s always moving.”
Still, despite the pressure, the sacrifices, and the solitude, Russell is clear on one thing:
“I wouldn’t change a single part of my journey, not then, not now.”
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