George Russell reconnected with the podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix by securing a welcome third place for Mercedes. The Briton took advantage of Charles Leclerc’s difficulties at the end of the race to grab the last spot on the podium, ending a series of disappointing results for the German team right before the summer break.
A solid start, a clear strategy
Author of an excellent take-off, Russell climbed from fourth to third place at the very first corner. He took advantage of Lando Norris’s failed attack on his teammate, Oscar Piastri, to secure a strategic position from the very start.
There were a lot of things happening at the start, and once I got past Lando, I wanted to block him to let Fernando through, because I knew Lando would be too fast, but that lasted for one lap, he explains. A judicious calculation, even though the maneuver did not have the desired effect against the pace of the McLarens.
The Mercedes driver fended off attacks from Norris, keeping the McLaren behind him for several laps: « I was happy to keep Lando at bay during the first stint », he admitted. This solid management notably allowed the Brackley team to remain in a position to contend for the podium.
Indeed, although he could not compete with the McLaren over the long haul, Russell nevertheless managed to keep pace and seize the opportunities presented by the race: « I am really happy with today’s race. Yesterday’s qualifying was a surprise, as was this weekend in general, but I am delighted to be back on the podium », he rejoiced at the finish.
A tense duel with Leclerc
The battle for third place intensified after the pit stops, when Russell found himself wheel to wheel with Charles Leclerc. The two drivers engaged in a fierce exchange, marked by a defensive change of trajectory by Leclerc under braking, a move deemed borderline by his rival who immediately reacted on the radio: « That’s a penalty! He turned into me under braking. » The stewards agreed with him, imposing a five-second penalty on the Ferrari driver.
After the arrival, Russell reflected on the incident to highlight the risks: “It’s one of those moments where you commit to some sort of dive. If the driver ahead moves, you’re already on the edge of grip and there’s not much room for maneuver. I think we had contact the second time, but I’m just glad to have gotten through it, it’s a good way to approach the break,” he explained.
An encouraging performance
This result gives a new lease of life to Mercedes, who have been struggling for several races. In their quest for better performance, the team even chose to revert to the suspension setup initially introduced at Imola, which seems to have paid off. « It’s clearly better than the races we’ve had so far, so I’m satisfied », commented Russell about the car, relieved to see the team’s efforts finally rewarded.
But although this result is encouraging, Lewis Hamilton’s former teammate did not get carried away regarding Mercedes’ position in the hierarchy: « These guys [McLaren] are doing an excellent job and are largely dominating. I don’t think that will change much, as everyone is focused on 2026. Our goal is to be the best of the rest. », he said, before adding: « We will take the positives, but we will not get carried away. »
Thanks to his podium in Hungary, George Russell (172 points) is now 15 points behind Max Verstappen (187) in third place in the world championship, taking advantage of the recent difficulties of the Dutch driver. He thus approaches the summer break with renewed momentum and on a very positive note.
