Headline: George Russell to Miss FP1 a…read more
In a surprising turn ahead of the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team has officially announced that George Russell will not take part in the first free practice (FP1) session of the race weekend. The decision, disclosed earlier today, has sparked curiosity among fans and pundits alike, with speculation swirling about the reason behind the absence.
While the team has yet to release an in-depth explanation, early reports suggest the decision is strategic rather than injury-related, with Mercedes possibly using the session to give valuable track time to one of their reserve or junior drivers. This aligns with the team’s long-term talent development goals and could offer an early glimpse into Mercedes’ future lineup.
Russell, who is entering his fourth full season with the Silver Arrows, has been a consistent performer for the team. His absence from FP1 could also be linked to new car components being evaluated by a test driver or simply a procedural choice to balance mileage across the weekend.
The move comes as Mercedes continues to hunt for performance gains against front-runners like Red Bull and Ferrari, with pre-season testing revealing both promise and persistent challenges for the Brackley-based squad.
More details are expected during the Thursday press conference, where Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff is scheduled to address the media. Until then, fans will be keeping a close eye on who steps into Russell’s seat for FP1 and how the team utilizes the session.
Stay tuned for updates as the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend kicks off.
