RACE REACTION: How illness nearly cost George Russell a podium finish in Baku

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix can be ruthless — tight walls, tricky straights, unforgiving corners. But for George Russell, Baku 2025 became more than just another race; it was a testament to grit, resilience, and smart racing under pressure. Despite being ill all weekend and doubting whether he’d even make it to the grid, Russell delivered a major result: starting P5 and finishing P2, keeping Mercedes in the mix as the championship enters its final stretch.

Illness Almost Ruled Him Out

Leading into the weekend, Russell was battling more than just his rivals.

• He skipped Media Day and missed the FIA driver briefing due to illness. He felt “really rough” Friday and Saturday, such that there were serious doubts whether he’d even be able to race. Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas was ready to step in if needed.

• Russell himself said if this had been a tougher weekend — say Singapore, with its heat and humidity — he might have pulled out. But Baku’s cooler ambient conditions, somewhat, helped him cope. 

So the starting point was far from ideal — not just physically, but mentally. But Russell made it known: he intended to push through. 

Qualifying & Strategy: From P5 to P2

Russell managed to qualify in P5, behind several strong performances, including those of Carlos Sainz and others. Starting mid-top 5 meant he was in striking distance, but still had to navigate traffic, manage tyres, and stay clean.

Mercedes chose an interesting strategy:

• Russell started on hard tyres, while his teammate Kimi Antonelli used mediums. That gave Russell a longer first stint and some strategic flexibility.

• He stayed out longer while others pitted earlier, benefitting from cleaner air and fewer overtakes needed in the early laps. Then, crucially, on lap 40 he made his pit stop to mediums, rejoining just ahead of Sainz who already had older tyres. That overcut was key to securing P2.

He didn’t need flashy overtakes late in the race; instead, he stayed consistent, avoided trouble, capitalized on others’ mistakes, and brought it home.

Comments: Russell’s Perspective & Team Reflections

Russell was candid about how he felt:

“I was pretty glad when I saw the chequered flag, to be honest,” he said. He noted that while the weekend had been really rough physically, he felt better in the race and was able to focus. 

He emphasised doing what he could with what he had — staying out of trouble, managing tyres, and being opportunistic. He said:

“Stayed out of trouble … a lot of people made mistakes … we picked up the pieces.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff praised the performance, saying that Russell’s participation had been “touch and go,” and that finishing P2 under these conditions was “mega.” 

What This Means for the Championship & Mercedes

• The result boosts Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship: with P2 from Russell (and decent performance by Antonelli too), they overtook Ferrari for second. That puts them in a much better position for the remaining races.

• In the Drivers’ Championship, it’s not enough to catch McLaren or Verstappen immediately, but Russell trimmed some gap, kept momentum, and reminded that he can perform under less-than-perfect circumstances. Top opponents had off-days or misfortune; Russell ran a cleaner race. 

• Physically and mentally, this weekend serves as a test: Russell showed he can manage illness and still deliver. That kind of resilience could be crucial in tightly-contested tracks ahead, especially ones that are more demanding or have harsh weather. Baku may have been “one of the toughest circuits,” but Russell believed “it maybe one of the easiest” under current conditions. 

Final Thoughts

George Russell’s P2 in Azerbaijan is one of those performances that quietly carry huge weight. It’s not just finishing second — it’s doing so while ill, starting outside the front row, navigating strategy and tyre battles, and taking advantage of others’ misfortunes without self-inflicted error.

This weekend doesn’t make or break the championship, but it adds momentum and belief. For Mercedes, it reasserts that when things fall right, they can challenge. For Russell, it’s another podium in 2025 (his seventh), and evidence that even amid adversity, he can extract strong results.

As the season heads into its final stretch, consistency will be king. And what Russell did in Baku was a masterclass in consistency under challenge. If he can carry this forward, Mercedes might yet make the fight tougher than many expect.