George Russell Discusses McLaren’s Lead in the 2025 Formula 1 Season

In an exclusive interview after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Mercedes driver George Russell shared his insights on the fierce competition in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Despite a close fight between Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull, Russell isn’t expecting these teams to challenge McLaren until a technical directive addresses flexible rear wings from the Spanish Grand Prix.

McLaren’s Performance Advantage

Russell has been vocal about McLaren‘s performance edge, even after finishing ahead of Lando Norris in Bahrain. He described as “head and shoulders” above the competition, with Oscar Piastri demonstrating an impressive lead in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Despite Mercedes being closely matched with Ferrari and Red Bull, Russell doesn’t anticipate these teams to challenge McLaren until after the Spanish GP. He believes other teams may not have a chance for a race win before then due to the impact of the upcoming technical directive on flexible rear wings.

Impact of Technical Directive

The new technical directive, set to take effect in Spain, aims to curb the use of controversial flexible rear wings. Given McLaren‘s excellence in this area, Russell doesn’t foresee a significant shift in the pecking order until after the Spanish GP.

This upcoming race is expected to be decisive, as it could reveal whether McLaren takes a step back and the pack closes up.

Russell’s Fight for Podium Finishes

Despite the challenges posed by McLaren, Russell remains optimistic about his chances of another podium finish before the Spanish GP. He finished second in Bahrain and, with strong performances from teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes currently sits in second position in the constructors’ standings.

To maintain his fight, Russell plans to capitalize on every mistake made by the McLaren pair of Norris and Piastri. He attributes much of the 40-point gap between and Mercedes to their mistakes rather than pure car performance.