Mercedes struggles continued at the Hungarian GP, with George Russell failing to make it out of Q1 for the first time this season. This adds fuel to the fire of their recent slump, raising serious questions about their ability to compete with Red Bull and the resurgent McLaren.
Russell’s woes began in practice, where the W14 seemed ill-suited to the tight and twisty Hungaroring circuit. The car lacked the agility and downforce needed to compete for pole position. This translated to a disastrous qualifying session, with Russell unable to find the pace to progress beyond the first stage.
This setback is a significant blow to Mercedes’ championship hopes. Lewis Hamilton, the other Mercedes driver, managed to scrape into Q3 but will start a lowly eighth. This leaves the Silver Arrows with a mountain to climb in the race, especially considering Red Bull’s strong showing. Max Verstappen, despite a minor hiccup at the start of qualifying, managed to secure third on the grid.
Team Principal Toto Wolff cut a frustrated figure after the session. “We are clearly lacking pace this weekend,“ he admitted. “We need to understand the car’s behavior better and find a solution quickly. This is a crucial point in the championship, and we cannot afford to fall further behind.“
Mercedes’ struggles are a welcome sight for their rivals. McLaren, with their surprise one-two finish in qualifying, are looking increasingly like genuine championship contenders. Red Bull, despite Verstappen’s slight wobble, will be confident of securing a strong result.
