George Russell Calls on Mercedes to Take Bold Risks After Radio Remark

George Russell is urging his Mercedes team to take more risks following a dramatic qualifying session for the Spanish Grand Prix. Russell matched Max Verstappen’s lap time exactly, both clocking a 1:11.848, but Verstappen set the time first and will start third, with Russell starting fourth on the grid.

Both drivers finished 0.302 seconds behind pole-sitter Oscar Piastri, who leads the pack going into the race at Circuit de Catalunya.

After qualifying, Russell shared on the radio that he believed Mercedes had played it too safe and missed a chance to gain valuable time. The main topic of discussion centered on the possible use of Kimi Antonelli to provide Russell a slipstream into Turn 1 during the first run in Q3.

Antonelli only had one set of fresh soft tires left, so it was clear he would not be a front-runner on his second attempt as his older set was significantly slower—about seven-tenths of a second off the pace.

Russell explained that being fourth all weekend signaled they needed to shake up their strategy. He believed a more aggressive approach could have made a real difference in the final lap.

Russell said he and Antonelli could have worked together to target a higher result, stressing that sometimes teams must take bold actions if they hope to close the gap to the leaders or score a podium finish.

Although Mercedes chose to save an extra set of soft tires for the race—which may prove helpful for their strategy—Russell remained clear about his desire to see more risk-taking. He acknowledged the second flying lap was actually his fastest, but was quick to point out that the window to try something different and unpredictable had come and gone.

His message to the team was that consistent results are not always enough if they want to challenge for wins or higher positions in the championship.

Mercedes heads into the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix sitting second in the constructors’ standings with 147 points, trailing McLaren’s 319 but ahead of Red Bull on 143. Russell himself is fourth in the drivers’ standings with 99 points, while his teammate Kimi Antonelli continues to learn in his rookie season. These numbers highlight just how tight the battle is among the top teams, driving the need for innovative tactics and quick thinking.

As race day approaches, attention will be on whether Mercedes will adjust their approach to take calculated risks that could pay off in both points and podium contention. Russell’s call for action may help shape team strategy not only for Barcelona but for the rest of the season, as every detail counts in the quest for Formula 1 success.