Russell Admits Mercedes 'Started in the Wrong Place' in Ground Effect Era

George Russell admits he cannot pinpoint what Mercedes has missed against Red Bull and McLaren in the ground effect era. The British driver suggests the team's struggles stem from a fundamental misstep with their radical 2022 car concept, which put them on the "wrong path" from the very beginning. This initial error gave rivals like Red Bull a significant head start in understanding the complex regulations, leaving Mercedes to play catch-up for four frustrating seasons.

Why it matters:

Mercedes' inability to consistently challenge for championships since 2022 marks a significant downturn for a team that dominated the hybrid era. Russell's candid admission highlights the fine margins in modern F1, where a single flawed concept can set a team back for years. Understanding where they went wrong is crucial for the Brackley squad to ensure they are competitive from the outset of the next major regulation change in 2026.

The details:

• Russell was direct when asked what Mercedes missed: "I can't really answer that question – what it is we've missed."
• He noted the "extremely challenging" regulations and the volatile competitive order, citing how Aston Martin and McLaren's fortunes have dramatically shifted in recent seasons.
• The 2022 Misstep: Russell pinpointed the team's radical "no-pods" philosophy as the critical error. He believes Mercedes "started in the wrong place and led ourselves down the wrong path."
• This concept was plagued by severe porpoising, a problem Red Bull largely avoided, giving them what Russell described as a "six- or eight-month head start" on development while Mercedes tried to fix its fundamental design flaw.

What's next:

Looking ahead, Russell doesn't believe the team's current struggles will necessarily carry over into the 2026 season, which features a new set of regulations. He argues that the "issues are going to be totally different" under the next ruleset, offering a clean slate for all teams. The key challenge for Mercedes will be to apply the hard lessons learned from the ground effect era to ensure they start on the right path when the new regulations arrive, avoiding a repeat of their costly 2022 mistake.