George Russell has downplayed concerns expressed by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff regarding the impact of his recent crash on the team’s budget cap. Russell’s accident in the second practice session in Mexico saw him lose control of his car at Turn 8 and collide with the TecPro barriers, causing significant damage.
Wolff detailed the extent of the damage to Sky Deutschland, explaining that while the chassis could be salvaged, extensive repairs were required as “two corners of the car are completely gone.” Despite the high repair costs from Russell’s back-to-back crashes, Wolff’s bigger worry was how these costs would strain Mercedes’ already tight budget cap.
Wolff highlighted the financial pressure Mercedes is under, especially with Russell’s recent crashes adding to the expenses. He referenced previous incidents, like the one involving Kimi Räikkönen at Monza, and how such accidents jeopardize their budget management. Wolff described the situation as “serious trouble” for Mercedes, as the team needs to find ways to balance their expenses while adhering to the Formula 1 budget cap. He acknowledged that multiple costly repairs could force the team to cut down on developments, potentially impacting future performance.
Russell, however, seemed less concerned about the financial strain, indicating that Mercedes has managed their budget with some margin for flexibility. He suggested that the team would have to carefully allocate resources between the current season and preparations for next year, emphasizing that he is open to prioritizing future developments over immediate upgrades if necessary. This strategy, according to Russell, would allow Mercedes to avoid compromising their 2024 season progress due to the current year’s repairs. He mentioned that he would even prefer sticking with the older car setup if it benefits next year’s preparations.
Russell also indicated that Mercedes is working to repair the floor from his previous race in Austin, hoping it will be ready for the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix. While he acknowledged that adjustments might need to be made for the rest of the season, Russell is content with this approach, especially since Mercedes isn’t contending for the championship this year. His focus remains on optimizing the team’s long-term competitiveness rather than pushing for immediate upgrades that could risk the budget cap.
Ahead of Sunday’s race, Russell was pleased with his qualifying position, securing P5 on the grid and outperforming teammate Lewis Hamilton, who will start from P6. Despite driving a patched-up car with older components, he was satisfied with his lap performance, ending up only a tenth of a second behind the third-place qualifier. Russell sees potential in the race, noting that the front-running teams are in close competition, which might give Mercedes a chance to capitalize if the race dynamics shift in their favor.
