Mercedes driver George Russell pinpointed tyre management as the critical factor that could determine the race’s outcome. With McLaren setting the pace in practice sessions, Russell and Mercedes are banking on strategic tyre preservation to close the gap to the dominant papaya cars.
In Friday’s second practice session (FP2), McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the timesheets, edging out teammate Oscar Piastri by just over a tenth of a second. The pair have been the benchmark this season, with Norris leading the Drivers’ Championship. However, Russell believes that tyre degradation, a significant factor in the recent Bahrain Grand Prix, could level the playing field in Jeddah. “Getting the most out of the tyres will be the deciding factor this weekend,” Russell told reporters after practice. “We saw in Bahrain that McLaren’s pace was strong, but tyre wear kept the fight close. I think we could see something similar here.”
The Jeddah circuit, known for its smooth asphalt and high-speed corners, places unique demands on tyre performance. The soft, medium, and hard compounds supplied by Pirelli will require careful management, especially in the race’s long stints under the Saudi Arabian heat. Russell’s comments were echoed by posts on X, where fans and analysts highlighted tyre strategy as Mercedes’ potential trump card against McLaren’s raw speed. One user noted, “Russell’s right—tyres will make or break this race. Mercedes could sneak a podium if they nail the strategy.”
Mercedes showed promising pace in FP2, with Russell feeling comfortable on both medium and soft tyres, despite a minor mistake on his soft-tyre run. “I was feeling good, especially on the medium,” he said. “On the soft, I made a mistake on lap one, and the tyre didn’t hold on as well as it could have. But overall, it’s been a positive day.” However, a red flag triggered by Yuki Tsunoda’s crash late in FP2 disrupted long-run simulations, leaving teams with incomplete data on tyre degradation. “I was intrigued to see the long-run pace, but with the red flag, we didn’t get that chance,” Russell added.
McLaren’s dominance was briefly disrupted in qualifying, where Norris crashed out, allowing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to clinch a stunning pole position. Despite this setback, McLaren remains the team to beat, with Piastri starting near the front and Norris expected to fight through the field. Russell, starting in the top five, sees an opportunity to capitalize on any tyre-related struggles for his rivals. “McLaren are very good again, but I think it’ll be a close battle for the next best team,” he said. “Hopefully, we can sneak up there.”
Russell’s qualifying performance was not without regret. Reflecting on his lap, he admitted to pushing too hard to warm up his tyres, which cost him time in the final sector. “I thought I needed to go a bit hotter with my tyres to ensure no mistakes at Turn 1, and it cost me a tenth and a half in the last sector,” he posted on X via a fan account. This small error underscores the delicate balance teams must strike between tyre preparation and outright pace on Jeddah’s demanding layout.
As race day looms, all eyes will be on how teams manage their tyre allocations over the 50-lap Grand Prix. Mercedes’ hopes of catching McLaren hinge on exploiting any tyre wear advantages, with Russell poised to lead the charge. “It’s going to be about who can keep the tyres alive the longest,” Russell concluded. “If we get it right, we’re in the fight.”