Mercedes made their way to the Miami podium for the first time as George Russell came from P5 on the grid to finish on the third step. Russell was “really happy” with his Miami GP podium and would remain so after stewards rejected Red Bull’s protest. This was the third podium for Russell and the fourth for Mercedes of the 2025 season.
Russell took the alternative strategy
Kimi Antonelli started from P3 in Miami on the Medium compound but teammate Russell took the alternative strategy on the Hard tyre. Being able to run longer than those around him paid dividend. A Virtual Safety Car period allowed opportunity to switch on to the Medium tyre. Russell was then able to leapfrog Max Verstappen to the final place on the podium.
The British driver shared his initial thoughts on his race with fellow Brit Jenson Button. The 2009 F1 Drivers’ Champion said he must surely view this as not a bad result. This was due to that most of the weekend the Mercedes driver hadn’t really got to grips with the car around Miami.
“Yeah, to be honest, really happy to come away with P3 because I’ve been struggling this weekend, personally, and always on the back foot.” replied a jubilant Russell. “But ultimately, when it mattered, got a really good result today. But well done to the McLarens – they’re just down the road.”
Keeping Max Verstappen behind you
Discussion turned to the moment of the Virtual Safety Car and the track position gained. Even so, keeping Max Verstappen behind you is never an easy challenge.
“No, it’s not,” said the 27-year-old. “But I was pretty calm and I felt really good with the car to keep him behind me, so it was good.”
The ‘awesome’ Drivers’ Parade
As with most post-race track interviews, there was a lighthearted moment with reference made to the historic Drivers’ Parade with Lego model cars. All 20 drivers were spread out across ten huge Lego team liveried F1 cars – 2 teammates to a car. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t long before contact was made and Russell quipped afterwards: “I think Lando’s a bit upset with me because we had a bit of a crash on the Lego race this morning. I gave him a bit of an injured leg, so I don’t know if he’s going to complain at me for something.”
Russell also went on to joke with Button that “without a doubt the race this morning – the Lego race” had been his favourite of the day: “That was awesome! We need to do that every race.”
Absent from the traditional post-race top three press conference
Russell had been available to attend the immediate post-race interviews and subsequent podium celebration. However, due to “medical reasons” was absent from the traditional post-race top three press conference. Further remarks eventually came from the Mercedes Press Release. These saw the British driver reiterate his struggles.
“I’ve been struggling a little more than usual this weekend and not felt as comfortable in the car as at previous races this season,” said Russell. “I’ve been a little on the back foot but when it mattered, we’ve put in a good performance and come away with another strong result. Verstappen was close behind me after we pitted but I felt positive on the Medium tyre and knew I could manage my pace to keep him behind.”
The battle for P3 – in the Stewards’ room
When the pace of McLaren became evident it was clear that the only battle left was the one for P3. A battle which was going to be closely fought on track and as it turned out in the stewards room as well.
Red Bull lodged a protest post-race making an allegation that Russell had failed to slow sufficiently under single-waved yellow flags during the Miami Grand Prix. The global tv broadcast had F1 pundit Antony Davidson explain that he had heard the throttle lift. Russell also said on team radio that he had done so. However, Red Bull clearly felt that there was more to be answered.
In the hearing, Red Bull claimed that “while [Russell] lifted the throttle when the yellow flag was displayed, it did not reduce speed” and so argued the Mercedes car had not adhered to the regulations.
Mercedes said that the “common practice accepted by all teams and the FIA was and still is that significantly lifting the throttle in a yellow flag zone is considered as an appropriate reaction and they therefore complied with the relevant regulations”. The representatives also went on to say that Russell had “significantly” lifted off the throttle when seeing Gabriel Bortoleto’s Sauber at the side of the track.
With all cases made the stewards rejected the protest. In doing so Russell held onto P3 – and is now just 6 points behind Max Verstappen in the F1 Drivers’ Championship. With Oscar Piastri out in front and already 38 points ahead after a quarter of the season, the challenge faced by all the drivers is clear to see.
Catching up to McLaren?
Mercedes find themselves in second place of the Constructors’ Championship – albeit 105 points behind frontrunners McLaren. Catching up to McLaren will be a tough task for all the other teams on the grid. Next up on the F1 calendar is a triple header in Europe starting in Imola. We will probably know by the culmination of this sequence of races as to whether there is any challenge coming from elsewhere. Either way, Russell has once again shown that should an opportunity present itself, he is ready to be in the right place at the right time.
