Russell: Mercedes Must « Stay Realistic » Facing Rival Pace in Las Vegas
Arriving in Nevada with the label of « grand favorite » for the weekend, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team had already warned that the 2025 edition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix would likely differ significantly from the previous year. That caution proved justified this Friday, November 21, as the Silver Arrows faced a reality check during the opening practice sessions on the Strip.
While the W16 looked competitive, George Russell was quick to temper expectations, urging his team and fans to « stay realistic » regarding their position in the pecking order against a surging McLaren and a resilient Ferrari.
From Favorites to Chasers?
Mercedes came into the weekend with high hopes. The team’s historical strength on low-downforce tracks and their ability to fire up tires in cooler conditions made them the bookmakers’ choice. However, the chaotic stop-start nature of Friday’s sessions—interrupted by red flags and slippery conditions—revealed that the gap at the front is virtually non-existent.
Following Free Practice 2, where Lando Norris set a blistering pace for McLaren, Russell admitted that the hierarchy is not as clear-cut as predicted.
« We were quick to be labeled favorites, but we knew the others wouldn’t stand still, » Russell told reporters in the paddock. « Looking at the timesheets today, we have to stay realistic. The McLaren is incredibly fast over one lap, and Ferrari is right there with us on the long runs. »
The Challenge of the Cold
The primary hurdle for Mercedes on Friday was not aerodynamic balance, but tire temperature. The Las Vegas circuit, with its long straights and midnight ambient temperatures, makes it notoriously difficult to keep the tires in the optimal operating window.
While Mercedes has often excelled in cooler weather, Russell noted that the 2025 tires are behaving differently on the « green » (rubber-less) track surface compared to last year.
- Graining Issues: Several teams reported graining on the front tires, limiting aggressive cornering.
- Warm-up Struggles: Russell highlighted that getting the tires ready for a qualifying lap takes multiple preparation laps, a strategy that could be risky in a session prone to yellow flags.
A Tight Battle for the Podium
Despite the caution, it wasn’t a disastrous day for the Brackley-based squad. The car showed good top speed down the massive Strip straight—a crucial factor for overtaking on Sunday. However, Russell emphasized that « being realistic » means acknowledging that pole position is not a guarantee, but a fight.
« We are in the mix, definitely, » Russell clarified. « But to say we are the team to beat right now would be arrogant. We have work to do tonight to unlock that final tenth of a second. If we get the tires working, we can fight for the win. If we don’t, we could easily be fourth or fifth. »
The Road to Qualifying
With the team working late into the night to analyze the data from a disrupted FP2, the focus shifts to finding a setup that protects the tires without sacrificing straight-line speed.
For Russell, the objective is clear: ignore the « favorite » label and execute a perfect weekend. In a season where the margins are measured in milliseconds, staying grounded might be Mercedes’ best strategy to come out on top under the neon lights.
Sources
- Sky Sports F1 – « Russell reacts to Friday Practice in Las Vegas » (Nov 21, 2025)
- Motorsport.com – « Mercedes wary of McLaren threat after FP2 »
- F1.com – Official Free Practice 2 Results & Driver Interviews