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Russell’s Last Lap Heroics Secure P2 for Mercedes Despite Struggles: Wolff’s Analysis

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 22, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Russell’s Last Lap Heroics Secure P2 for Mercedes Despite Struggles: Wolff’s Analysis

Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - March 22, 2025 Mercedes' George Russell during qualifying REUTERS/Edgar Su

Despite Mercedes’ initial struggle with the tyres and expectations of a disappointing finish at the Shanghai race, George Russell’s final lap pulled the team into second position in the qualifying round. The unexpected turn of events left Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ boss, pleasantly surprised.

Wolff had earlier confessed to the team’s struggles, noting that getting the tyres in the right window had been a significant issue. However, Russell’s performance, which saw him split the McLarens, significantly altered the day’s outcome.

This remarkable feat was achieved after the departure of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, which left Russell with the daunting task of leading the team. In an impressive display of responsibility, Russell stepped up to the plate, delivering an exceptional performance that earned the team a frontline start for Sunday’s race.

Wolff acknowledged Russell’s efforts, praising the teamwork and Russell’s ability to pull through an excellent lap. He hinted that the outcome was a result of everyone putting their best foot forward.

Interestingly, the qualifying round gave an insight into the unpredictable nature of the grid. A Red Bull, surprisingly, came last while two Racing Bulls made it to the top 10. Wolff described the situation as a “discovery mission” for everyone, pointing out the dramatic fluctuations evident in the races.

He cited the example of Ferraris, who were dominant in a previous race but managed only the fifth and sixth positions in the recent outing. Wolff noted that the tight competition made predicting outcomes a daunting task.

Russell, on his part, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance. He acknowledged that while they had not expected to challenge the McLarens, the team had optimised what they had and achieved a great result. He described the second position as a rewarding outcome of his best qualifying efforts, crediting a change in out-lap preparation for the success.

Despite the stellar performance in the qualifying round, Russell emphasized that the Grand Prix would be determined by race pace. He expressed optimism about a strong result if the team could manage the tyres well and utilise the car’s pace.

Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli, a rookie in the team, made a slight mistake that cost him some time on his flying lap. Wolff, however, was quick to point out that Antonelli’s speed in Q3 was commendable and the experience would be valuable for his career.

In preparation for Sunday’s race, Wolff disclosed that the team would be aiming to maintain their position. He noted that the Hard compound tyre, which had not been used yet, was an unknown variable that could affect Sunday’s race. Nevertheless, he expressed hope and anticipation for a great outcome.

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