Russell targets improvement after tough Austin weekend

Written by Kavi Khandelwal

Mercedes driver George Russell arrives at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix looking to move on from what he has described as a "disappointed" weekend in Austin. The event came shortly after the team confirmed Russell is staying for the 2026 Formula One season.

Credit: Formula One

Despite having two race wins to his name this year, Russell finished the United States Grand Prix in P6. When speaking to the media, he explained that the result did not match the potential he felt the team had.

Russell stated: "It's been a solid season. I don't think I'm going to say I'm proud to be P4, but I'm proud that every race, we're getting the best result possible most weekends out. Last weekend, we didn't, so I left Austin feeling a bit disappointed".

The context for his disappointment was evident during the race. For a significant portion of the Grand Prix, Russell was unable to make progress as he was stuck in traffic. The driver spent much of the race behind Oscar Piastri's McLaren which forced him to match the Australian's pace.

This prevented the Mercedes driver from extracting the maximum performance possible from the car, leading to his assessment that the team didn't achieve the "best result possible" at the Circuit of the Americas.

His comments also highlight his view of the wider championship picture. In reference to his current P4 standing in the World Drivers' Champion, Russell admitted that he is "not proud" of it, despite calling the year "a solid season" and points to his high personal standards and ambitions.

With his future at Mercedes secured, Russell's focus remains on maximising the results of the current season. However, his remarks indicate a dissatisfaction with simply being "solid", as he and the team aim to rebound in Mexico from a weekend he believes fell short of their capabilities.