George Russell has denied that Mercedes is at risk of breaching Formula 1’s budget cap despite recent crashes that left team principal Toto Wolff expressing concern. Russell’s collision in the second practice session in Mexico, following a similar incident at the United States Grand Prix, has led to repair costs that put Mercedes in “serious trouble” financially, according to Wolff. However, Russell remains confident, saying there is still “a bit of margin” in Mercedes’ budget and hinting he’d be willing to shift focus toward 2025 development if necessary.
“Now, potentially, we may have to compromise the rest of this season,” Russell explained. “I’d be more than happy staying on the old floor if that gives us a better chance into next year. We’re not fighting for a championship, so if resources are needed elsewhere, I’m all for it.” Mercedes plans to repair the damaged floor from Austin, with hopes it will be ready for Brazil.
Questions have arisen about Mercedes’ recent upgrades, as both Russell and Lewis Hamilton suffered unsettling spins in Austin’s tricky corners. Russell suggested an “inherent problem” with how the car handles certain kerbs, particularly compared to Red Bull, which seems unaffected by the same obstacles. “I mean, you look at the Red Bulls, they just run over that kerb like no problem,” he said. “I hit it, and it was like I was a kangaroo. And, you know, that was really disappointing.”
Despite the setbacks, Russell showed resilience, out-qualifying Hamilton as Mercedes locked out the third row. Reflecting on the weekend’s fluctuating performance, Russell admitted confusion over Mercedes’ early dominance in FP1. “Today was a really, really good day, to attempt from P3 on a floor that we raced in Miami 14 races ago now. I don’t think we could have done much more,” he said, signaling that the team’s inconsistent performance still needs answers.
As Mercedes looks to balance immediate repairs with long-term strategy, Russell’s pragmatic approach underscores his readiness to prioritize next season if it means staying within F1’s strict budget limitations.
