Russell: Mercedes struggles necessary to 'change the mould'
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George Russell believes that Mercedes' struggles under Formula 1's current ground-effect rules have been almost a necessary evil to help the team "change the mould" ahead of the sport's 2026 regulation overhaul.
Russell joined Mercedes in 2022, just as F1's new technical regs based on ground-effect aerodynamics came into force.
However, the shift brought a brutal end to the Brackley squad's dominant run of eight consecutive Constructors' Championships, with the German outfit winning just five races over the last three seasons, with Russell contributing three victories to his outfit's tally.
A Necessary Reset
While the team's overall performance has fallen dramatically short of expectations, Russell believes the challenging period has served a greater purpose for Mercedes.
"It's been a tough couple of years," Russell told Sky Sports this week at a Mercedes event launching its new partnership with Adidas.
"Of course we haven't had anywhere close to the success that we hoped for and what we've worked towards.
"But I feel like we potentially almost needed those years to reset, to change the mould, to start us on a fresh start and of course into this year.
"Also next year is going to be a huge season for every team. So much focus into getting that right because we know that if you start on the right tracks, it can set you up for years to come.
"So I'm really pumped, really excited. The break was nice, but I want to go racing now."
Championship Aspirations
Despite the setbacks, Mercedes showed glimpses of their former prowess last season, including a dominant 1-2 finish in Las Vegas in 2024, with Russell converting pole position into a win.
These moments of success, Russell believes, are a testament to the team's readiness to compete for championships when given the right equipment.
©Mercedes
When asked whether he felt ready to contend for the world title, Russell responded: "Yeah, absolutely. I feel ready, everybody in the team is so motivated.
"I feel that these years have been sort of trial and error, but every time we've had a chance to win, we've won.
"And that's what gives me the optimism that if we do have the car, we can achieve it [the title].
"So we're working as hard as we can to for it to be this year, but everybody is fully on board and it's going to be an exciting season."
As Mercedes heads into the 2025 season and looks ahead to the 2026 regulation overhaul, Russell's comments suggest a team that has learned valuable lessons from its recent struggles.
They are not just aiming to return to winning ways, but to "break the mould" and build a foundation for sustained success in the years to come.
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