Mercedes driver George Russell has cautioned that Formula 1 drivers will encounter an unpredictable challenge in wet conditions during the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
Russell spoke after finishing second in a dry British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where he overcame a slow puncture thanks to a late safety car. He noted that the 2026 cars have not yet raced in the rain this season, leaving teams and drivers without prior data.
"You can't really plan for it because you don't know what you're dealing with," Russell said on the new Silver Arrows Radio Show. He added that tyres may not perform as well as in previous years, requiring extra caution on the out-lap and first lap, and that drivers are unlikely to go flat through Eau Rouge on their initial push lap in rain.
The Belgian Grand Prix weekend is scheduled for 17-19 July. Russell currently sits second in the drivers' championship, 25 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli. He agreed with Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord that flexibility and adaptation will be essential once on track.
