Mercedes Sees Best Team Result Since Canada
At the Baku Circuit in Azerbaijan, teams faced high winds and twisting paths the entire weekend, resulting in one of the longest Qualifying sessions in Formula 1 history. Meanwhile, Mercedes was fighting their own battle: illness. Lead driver George Russell was experiencing respiratory problems the entire weekend, initially revealed when he passed on media opportunities on Thursday and made only brief appearances on Friday and Saturday. During the main event, Russell pushed through his ailment to deliver a stunning result, with teammate Kimi Antonelli not far behind to round out the weekend.
Despite his battle against the Flu, Russell performed admirably in Qualifying on Saturday, landing P5, starting just behind Antonelli. Recovery efforts through the weekend, mainly consisting of time away from the track, had him feeling up for the challenge on Sunday. The high starting position worked well for Russell, who managed to overtake Antonelli, Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson, and Williams driver Carlos Sainz to take second place from the Spaniard. Russell could be heard straining his voice over the team radio, emphasizing that additional challenge and making the overtakes that much more impressive. Over the radio, Team Principal Toto Wolff congratulated Russell and joked about his physical state, saying, “Well done. Flu does good for you.”
Russell credits the success to tire management and dedication. In a post-race interview, Russell noted the number of accidents across the weekend, stemming from weather conditions and driver error alike. For Mercedes, the incident count was rather low, especially with the reputation that Kimi Antonelli has gained in his rookie year for collisions. Antonelli has caused several crashes this season, from the Austrian Grand Prix, where he torpedoed into world champion Max Verstappen, to the more recent Dutch Grand Prix, where a sideswipe took Ferrari driver Charles LeClerc out of the race. At Baku, Antonelli worked diligently to remain on the track in difficult conditions, ultimately able to maintain his position, overtake Lawson, and finish just off the podium in fourth place.
For Mercedes, Baku was one of their best races this season. Ending the day with both drivers at the top of the grid is the best result the team has achieved since their one-three podium in Canada. An excellent display of both racers’ dedication and skill, Russell is looking more suited than ever to his lead position, while Antonelli is starting to look more confident on the track. The results from Baku bring some hope to Mercedes to stay ahead of their rivals in the Constructors’ Championship. The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a race that no one will be disappointed with, as teams that were unable to bring out their best will still be celebrating strong performances from all the podium finishers.
