George Russell underlined his growing leadership role at Mercedes by warning engineers that Kimi Antonelli’s W15 was “bottoming” heavily through Turns 4 and 5 during practice, risking excessive plank wear and potential disqualification.
The 27-year-old Brit relayed, “Lots of bottoming and plank wear from Kimi, exit turn four, entry turn five,” prompting immediate analysis.
Why plank wear matters
FIA regulations mandate a minimum plank thickness; failure led to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s infamous double DQ at the 2023 United States Grand Prix.
More recently, Nico Hülkenberg fell foul in Bahrain 2025, proving enforcement remains stringent.
Antonelli’s home-race spotlight
The Italian rookie is contesting his first Grand Prix in front of partisan fans, raising stakes for Mercedes to avoid any procedural missteps.
Russell’s intervention demonstrated a mentorship ethic Wolff had earlier demanded.
Engineering response
Trackside engineers raised ride height by 1 mm and adjusted damping to reduce sparks over Imola’s aggressive kerbs.
Simulated lap-time loss was negligible compared with the catastrophe of a post-race exclusion.
Mercedes’ 2025 resurgence
Four podiums for Russell and steady points from Antonelli have propelled the team to second in the constructors’ table behind McLaren.
Avoiding penalties is critical to sustaining that momentum in a tightly bunched midfield.
Disqualification precedent fresh in memory
Russell cited the “ridiculous” nature of losing results to millimetric infractions, referencing Hamilton’s 2024 Chinese GP DQ as a cautionary tale.
His comments echoed broader paddock debate about whether plank rules should evolve with increasingly low-rake car designs.
Role reversal since Hamilton’s exit
With no seven-time champion to lean on, Russell has embraced chief-tester duties, often logging extra simulator hours to fine-tune set-ups before race weekends.
Antonelli has lauded his team-mate’s openness, calling him “a textbook of F1 knowledge.”
Strategic implications for Sunday
If early safety-car periods arise, Mercedes may exploit raised ride height to double-stack both cars without fear of plank monitoring later.
Conversely, higher altitude could marginally compromise straight-line speed against low-drag McLarens.
FIA monitoring intensifies
Random plank inspections have increased by 20 percent in 2025, bolstered by laser measuring rigs introduced this season.
Teams therefore err on the side of caution, especially on tracks like Imola featuring compressive bumps at Variante Alta.
Russell’s broader influence
Beyond technical alerts, Russell liaises with new chief communications officer Bradley Lord to manage media expectations while Wolff is absent.
He also participates in nightly briefings where Antonelli deconstructs laps with performance coach Jock Clear.
Fan view
Many supporters praised Russell’s vigilance on X, dubbing him “Captain George” for protecting both team points and Antonelli’s confidence.
Closing thoughts
By flagging a risk that could have derailed Mercedes’ weekend, Russell reinforced the value of seasoned instincts in a squad navigating generational change.
Whether the adjustment sacrifices outright pace or delivers trouble-free points will be evident when the lights go out on Sunday afternoon.