30/05/2025 21:30
George Russell had to laugh after witnessing McLaren showing no
signs of slowing down despite the FIA cracking down on front-wing
flexing. For this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, the FIA has
introduced new load tests for the front wings that must not flex
more than 10mm when weights are applied evenly across the
component. Under previous rules, it was 15mm. Many observers have
long felt that McLaren would feel the impact of the rules, yet
following Friday practice at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya,
Lando Norris topped FP1, and championship-leading team-mate Oscar
Piastri was quickest in FP2. There was additional surprise when the
FIA document emerged pre-practice that highlighted no changes to
the MCL39 , unlike the majority of its rivals, who all announced
new front wings in compliance with the regulations. Russell, second
quickest at the end of second practice, 0.286s adrift of Piastri,
was asked whether he had felt any difference with the new wings on
the cars. Sarcastically, Russell joked: "It's clearly slowed
McLaren down a lot! Yeah, good news!" Russell airs Mercedes concern
Overall, Russell was happy to find himself back in the mix at the
front of the field following two difficult grands prix in Imola and
Monaco. Mercedes predominantly struggled across both weekends,
scoring just six points from Russell's seventh place in Imola. In
Monaco, the team failed to score a point for the first time in 29
races. With team-mate Kimi Antonelli sixth on the timesheet, a
quarter of a second adrift of Russell, the Briton feels on one-lap
pace, the team will be challenging the McLaren duo and Red Bull's
Max Verstappen for high grid slots. Russell, though, does have a
niggling worry. "In the quali runs, we looked pretty decent, so it
was nice to be back where the car has been after some tough races,"
he said. "Nevertheless, the long-run pace doesn't look superb, and
that has been an objective of ours recently to try and improve
that. "So we need to go through the data, we need to compare how we
fill out compared to our rivals, but definitely the long-run pace
is a small concern." Generally, though, Russell feels he is "in a
good place", although the sweltering conditions are playing a part.
"I'm enjoying driving this circuit," he said. "It felt good out
there. It's hot, a bit stinky, so let's see what the next two days
bring."
