Mercedes will learn if they’ve successfully copied McLaren with George Russell’s car at the Austrian Grand Prix

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George Russell will look to win the Austrian Grand Prix on merit in 2025 after tasting glory in the Canadian GP, having inherited the race win at the Red Bull Ring last year.

The Mercedes racer returns to Spielberg this weekend hot off the back of Russell scoring his first pole position and his first win of the 2025 F1 season in Montreal. He is yet to win at the same track twice, having also won the Sao Paulo Grand Prix and the Las Vegas GP once.

Russell was even only set for P3 at the Red Bull Ring last June, yet he inherited the win after Max Verstappen crashed into Lando Norris in the 2024 Austrian GP. The Briton was 15.457s from the lead fight before the Red Bull racer hit the McLaren man at Turn 3 on Lap 64 of 71.

His victory in the 2025 Canadian GP was firmly on merit as Russell beat Verstappen by 0.160 seconds for pole and controlled the race ahead of his rival from Red Bull. The Mercedes star is even now only 19 points behind the four-time champion in the 2025 F1 drivers’ standings.

Mercedes can prove if their rear suspension upgrade is a success at the 2025 Austrian GP

While Red Bull angered Toto Wolff by protesting Russell’s Canadian GP win, the 27-year-old was rarely challenged in Montreal as the Silver Arrows took full advantage of a track layout that suits their car to also see Andrea Kimi Antonelli secure his debut F1 podium in Canada.

Another benefit for Russell and Antonelli in Montreal was the rear suspension upgrade that Mercedes used at the Canadian GP. The Brackley bunch fitted the update that they debuted at Imola, before then dropping for Monaco and Spain after struggling to manage their tyres.

READ MORE: The most successful teams and engine manufacturers at the F1 Austrian GP

Mercedes are set to keep the rear suspension upgrade on Russell and Antonelli’s cars at this week’s Austrian GP. And BBC Sport also reports that the Red Bull Ring will be the team’s first chance to prove if the update is a real success, as it is not a track that historically suits them.

Also, Mercedes designed their rear suspension upgrade with McLaren in mind, having noted how their rivals have benefitted from running extreme levels of rear anti-lift. The aim is for a stable aerodynamic platform to improve grip plus the consistency of the downforce created.

The Red Bull Ring will test Mercedes’ rear suspension upgrade more than the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve

While track temperatures rose to around 50° at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, its lack of high-load corners and Mercedes’ rear suspension upgrade returning meant Russell and Antonelli could control their rear tyre temperatures much easier than at tracks like the Red Bull Ring.

READ MORE: Most successful drivers at the Austrian GP of all time and at the Red Bull Ring

So, Mercedes will go to this weekend’s Austrian GP looking at a chance to prove if their rear suspension update inspired by McLaren was a success, or if the Canadian GP venue’s layout was a larger contributor. Track temperatures are forecast to exceed 50° at the Red Bull Ring.

Hot track temperatures have been a major thorn in Mercedes’ side for the last few seasons, with the Brackley bunch prone to graining and thus a lack of grip. The Red Bull Ring also has long-radius corners with the double-left Turns 6 and 7, plus a high-load corner with Turn 9.