Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Endures Challenging Sunday at the Mexico City Grand Prix

The 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix proved to be a frustrating outing for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, with Kimi Antonelli finishing P6 and George Russell P7 after a race marked by early setbacks, strategic pivots, and intense midfield battles.

Both drivers started on the Soft compound tyres, with George lining up P4 and Kimi in P6. A chaotic first lap saw each driver lose a position, and George subsequently dropped behind his teammate while navigating a fierce battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

The team opted for a one-stop strategy initially, switching both drivers to Mediums—Kimi on Lap 22 and George on Lap 26. As George closed in on the Haas of Ollie Bearman, the team inverted the running order to give him a chance to attack. However, with tyre degradation setting in and overtaking proving difficult, the strategy was revised to a two-stop approach.

Kimi pitted again on Lap 47, followed by George on Lap 48, both returning to Softs for the final stint. A slow stop for Kimi allowed Oscar Piastri’s McLaren to gain position, and George later lost out to the Australian on track. With limited opportunities to advance, the team restored the original running order, bringing Kimi home in P6 and George in P7.

The battle for second in the Constructors’ Championship remains fiercely contested, with Ferrari now just one point ahead and four races remaining.

Driver Quotes

Kimi Antonelli (P6):

“It was a tough race from the start. Losing a position at Turn 1 put us in a train of cars we couldn’t quite pass. Our pace in clean air was decent, but the dirty air made it difficult to move forward.

We’ll review our strategy decisions, but ultimately, we didn’t have the speed to challenge further. Brazil is next, and we’re focused on reclaiming second in the championship.”

George Russell (P7):

“A frustrating afternoon. I stayed on track at Turn 1 while others cut across the grass and gained positions without penalty. Later, I had to take evasive action when Max rejoined the track, which cost me more places.

We tried to maximize the team result with strategy, but we lacked the pace to fight through. We’re still in the hunt and looking forward to Brazil.”

Team Management Comments

Bradley Lord, Team Representative:

“We were racing in a tightly packed midfield where margins were razor-thin. George lost out early despite staying within track limits, and Kimi managed his tyres well behind Bearman. We attempted a car inversion to give George a chance to attack, but tyre wear limited progress. A slow stop cost Kimi a place, and once it was clear we couldn’t gain further, we restored the order. It was a day of damage limitation, and the championship fight remains intense.”

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director:

“The first lap is always unpredictable here, and unfortunately both drivers lost ground. George’s race was further compromised when he was forced wide by Verstappen. We converted to a two-stop strategy to capitalize on the Soft tyre’s performance, but the surrounding cars responded effectively. Piastri’s pace was strong, and we couldn’t hold him off. We’ve lacked the car performance needed recently, but we’ll regroup and push hard in Brazil.”

Race Summary:

Strategy Overview:

The team now turns its attention to the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix, determined to regain momentum and reclaim second place in the Constructors’ standings.