Mercedes have "uncovered a few things" as they get early boost on rivals

George Russell claims have "definitely uncovered a few things" they plan on taking into next season.

The Silver Arrows are looking to become a championship-winning outfit once again heading into 2025. For the past three seasons they've been competitive, but they've not been able to challenge Red Bull and now McLaren and Ferrari are both ahead of them.

Mercedes are already turning one eye towards next season, when they'll be without for the first time in a decade. Russell will be and the team have bought some effective upgrades to the United States Grand Prix, where

The Brit is hopeful that they can take some of the positive changes into next season, which will be the final year of the current rules cycle ahead of the major 2026 regulation changes. Russell though is confident they've been able to make a head start on the W16 package.

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He told the media in Austin: “Obviously we reverted with the [previous] upgrades that we brought to Spa. So effectively we’re making two steps now when we bring this upgrade, so we’re hoping it’s going to have quite an impact. I think these three weeks off have been great because it’s allowed us all to take a step back and reassess the car as a whole - also looking into next year.

“We’ve definitely uncovered a few things that we want to be changing going into next year. And when you’re in the midst of a season, you sometimes don’t have that opportunity to really dig deep into the fundamentals of the car, so that’s been really positive to see.

“But I hope with the upgrade we can be in the fight again, at least in qualifying, and fighting for those top four places and then in the race fighting for a podium. But realistically, we know McLaren and Lando [Norris] are a good step ahead of everyone right now.”

The last major rule change came in 2021 - just after Mercedes and Hamilton were pipped to the driver's title in controversial circumstances. Ever since 2022 they've been playing catch up but, heading into 2026, Russell admits teams are playing something of a guessing game.

He said: "Ultimately it’s like digging for gold: for the ’26 regulations you’re digging, but you don’t know if you’re digging in the right places. And ultimately, when you start and you drive the car for the first time, that’s when people are going to start making the biggest gains.”