Overview

• Russell described Mercedes' outing at Spa-Francorchamps as the team's worst of the season after qualifying 13th for the sprint, starting sixth in Sunday's grand prix and finishing fifth.
• He has called for an internal review meeting this week to analyse the sudden slide from four podiums in the first six races to a lone rostrum finish in the past seven.
• The team suspects that aero updates introduced after the FIA's front-wing flex directive in Barcelona have disrupted the W16's aerodynamic balance.
• Russell warned that the W16's rear stability has deteriorated, making it more challenging to drive and contributing to an uptick in driver errors.
• Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli qualified on the second-last row at Spa and finished 16th, extending his run of non-scoring results.