George Russell is still grappling with a problem that Lewis Hamilton ‘repeatedly complained’ about at Mercedes

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Mercedes have been one of the more inconsistent and tough to predict Formula 1 teams over the last few years.

At times, they’re capable of competing for victories, as George Russell has shown during the 2025 season, with a win at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Elsewhere, such as in Monaco, they’re left struggling to get either car in the top 10 and look like they have a midfield running car.

Their unpredictability is a big reason why they lie just third in the constructors’ championship, years on from their dominance at the start of the turbo-hybrid era.

A Max Verstappen move to Mercedes could be close as they look to plot a path back to the top of the grid ahead of the 2026 F1 regulations.

That would then mean that Russell could replace an ‘unbelievable’ F1 driver and leave the Silver Arrows after nearly a decade with them. It would be a significant development.

READ MORE: George Russell will not like what ‘all the indications’ say about Mercedes’ Belgian Grand Prix upgrades

George Russell faces Mercedes setup problem that Lewis Hamilton ‘repeatedly complained’ about

Red Bull want to stop Verstappen joining Mercedes because losing their superstar driver could do some real harm to their operation.

He has carried them to championships over the last few years, and no one else has been able to figure out their car in the second seat.

The team he could join have problems of their own, though, with Russell facing a Mercedes ‘challenge’ to validate a new upgrade package quickly ahead of the summer break.

There’s hope that it will make their life slightly easier, although the Italian edition of Motorsport.com now reports that the team faces an issue even Lewis Hamilton ‘repeatedly complained’ about.

The operating window of their car is too narrow, which means they face a tough time extracting pace from their car in a variety of conditions. It only works under certain parameters.

Russell’s new Mercedes contract could depend on demands from both sides, but he will want to see that issue rectified in future cars if he does stay.

READ MORE: Why George Russell could end up being the biggest loser from Christian Horner’s Red Bull sacking

Why Mercedes should be much stronger in the second half of the 2025 F1 season

Looking at the first half of the 2024 Formula 1 season, the Silver Arrows’ results were significantly down compared to what they delivered just before and after the summer break.

It’s no real coincidence either, with their car suiting tracks that are neither too cold nor too warm to perform well.

Notably, they picked up a one-two finish out of nowhere at the Las Vegas Grand Prix towards the end of the year, but still finished fourth in the constructors’ standings.

This year, that’s incredibly unlikely given Red Bull’s limitations, but second place could be up for grabs if they perform well. Ferrari have weaknesses and they’re there to be exploited.