F1 news: What are Mercedes and George Russell’s chances of winning the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix?
Mercedes will be hoping to score another victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend, or at least grab a podium, as they look to gain ground in the Constructors’ Championship.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Ayla Vaughan reviews the Silver Arrows’ previous wins in São Paulo and assesses the likelihood of a repeat in 2025.
George Russell’s success in São Paulo
In the current era of F1, Mercedes have found the Brazilian GP to be supremely compatible with their cars and drivers, especially George Russell.
The clearest evidence of this was when Russell scored his maiden win in São Paulo in 2022, with Lewis Hamilton finishing in second to make it a 1-2 for the German team.
The Brit also finished in fourth in 2024 after a chaotic wet race saw Max Verstappen win from 17th on the grid and Alpine secure a double podium courtesy of a great strategy call.
He was then forced to retire from the 2023 race due to overheating issues with his car, but that is the only outlier for him in Brazil as a Mercedes driver.
It is therefore not unreasonable to predict that Russell scores near the top of the grid on Sunday, providing that he is competitive to Verstappen, the McLarens, and the Ferraris.
The 27-year-old moreover needs to bring it home so that Mercedes can move up to second in the Constructors’ Championship standings, where they currently trail Ferrari by a point.
Likelihood of Mercedes winning Brazilian GP
Russell’s contract renewal at the Silver Arrows has seemingly given him the confidence that he can lead the team after the departure of seven-time world champion Hamilton to Ferrari.
In addition, the Briton has won in Canada and Singapore this year, showing that the car is capable when everything goes according to plan and the team is competitive.
Consequently, Russell has a higher likelihood of winning the Brazilian GP than most, especially in light of his familiarity with the track and past performances.
Kimi Antonelli is a bit more of an unknown factor as he has never driven in São Paulo before.
The rookie had a good start to the season followed by a tricky spell during the European leg but has since enjoyed a stronger run of form, finishing fourth in Baku, fifth in Singapore, and sixth in Mexico.
The Italian will hope to continue that pattern and end the campaign on a high, yet he is unlikely to challenge for a podium in comparison to his more experienced team-mate.
Mercedes’ chances of winning in Brazil this year also depend on whether Ferrari and McLaren prove as well suited to the track as in previous years.
Qualifying will no doubt be close amongst the top teams, while the unpredictable São Paulo weather could have an impact over the weekend and throw a spanner in the works.
READ MORE: Oliver Bearman’s breakout F1 season points him to a Ferrari future
