George Russell started his Dutch Grand Prix weekend strongly, topping the FP2 timesheets with his teammate Lewis Hamilton close behind in third. Despite this promising start, both drivers were cautious about setting ambitious goals for the rest of the weekend.
As Formula 1 resumes after the summer break, Mercedes aims to maintain the momentum that earned them six podiums in the last six races and established them as serious contenders.
In FP2, Russell led Piastri and Hamilton in a closely contested second practice session at Zandvoort. On Friday, they showed glimpses of their strong performance, with Hamilton achieving the third-fastest time in both practice sessions, while Russell progressed from fifth to first over the course of the day. Despite high winds and Max Verstappen’s struggles for pace, the Mercedes drivers were the closest challengers to McLaren.
After setting the pace in FP2, George Russell noted that the conditions were “really difficult” throughout the sessions, leading him and his teammate to believe there’s more performance to unlock from the W15.
“It was incredibly windy, possibly the windiest I’ve experienced in the last few years,” he said. “The car felt strong, and the upgrades seem to be working as intended.”
He added, “It looks like a tight contest with the McLarens and Max, but things could change tomorrow.”
Russell reflected on the season so far, mentioning that while the car was off the pace in the first six races, the consistent weather made those weekends more predictable. With recent improvements in Canada and Silverstone, he noted that the challenges have intensified, but they are facing the same conditions as everyone else.
Reflecting on his performance, Hamilton acknowledged a significant improvement compared to last season, when he qualified 13th at Zandvoort despite showing promise in practice.
“It’s been a solid start to the weekend,” he said. “There’s a huge difference from last year—the car feels much more alive, and we’re competitive at the front.”
Hamilton noted, “We have a much better understanding of the car now, so starting strong and making small adjustments is very beneficial. It makes our work more enjoyable.”
He added, “There’s still room for improvement, especially with the set-up. I might not have looked exceptionally quick, but the set-up I had for qualifying may have affected my long-run pace.
“I’m not sure if we’ll be in the mix for the win, but we’re definitely aiming for at least a top-five finish.”
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