Toto Wolff believes the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 cars makes results like George Russell’s stunning Singapore Grand Prix win inevitable. Mercedes, whose form has fluctuated wildly in the ground-effect era, once again shocked the grid with a dominant performance in a race where expectations were low.
The Brackley outfit has endured a turbulent few seasons, mixing disappointing weekends with sudden bursts of front-running pace. Russell’s second win of 2025, however, stood out as one of the most unlikely, especially at a venue Mercedes thought would expose the W16’s weaknesses.
“If I were to make a list of all the races I thought we could win at this year, this would probably be right at the bottom,” George Russell said after beating Max Verstappen to pole and leading from the front. “So I think we need to sit down tomorrow and Tuesday to sort of understand why the performance was so good.”
Mercedes Stuns Itself in Singapore
Even Wolff admitted he was baffled by the sudden turnaround. “You tell me,” Wolff replied. “That was never a nice place for us in terms of car performance. And if you would have told me that we were dominating in the way we did today, I would not have believed it.”
Russell’s win wasn’t entirely down to raw pace. Strategy and track position were crucial, with the Briton keeping Verstappen behind on mediums while the Red Bull faded on softs. He also resisted pressure from Lando Norris, who looked quicker but never found a way through.
Several external factors helped Mercedes excel. Although Singapore’s climate is usually intense, night-time conditions kept track temperatures between 33°C and 34°C — warm but manageable. The street circuit’s layout, which lacks long high-speed corners, also reduces lateral tyre stress — similar to Montreal, another track where Russell triumphed from pole.
Rivals Falter as Mercedes Delivers
Mercedes also capitalised on its rivals’ struggles. Red Bull, despite good pace, admitted surprise at its competitiveness on a circuit that usually doesn’t suit its car. McLaren, meanwhile, faced limitations due to track-specific factors and development catch-up from competitors. Ferrari’s form appeared to dip further, falling out of contention for wins.
Wolff believes this rollercoaster of performance reflects the delicate balance needed to unlock the potential of today’s F1 machinery.
“These cars are just a surprise box. If you ask McLaren why the last three races haven’t gone at all, they would probably struggle for answers. And the same way, Max coming back and then lacking performance again today, and the same with the Ferraris oscillating between success and failure,” he said.
Fine Margins Define Success in Modern F1
Wolff explained that victory often depends on finding a precise performance window, one that is easy to miss. “It’s just that margins are so small in having the car in the right aerodynamic window, in extracting that maximum mechanical grip without killing the tyres, and the sweet spot of the Pirellis obviously. That doesn’t always correlate what you see in the virtual world, in the simulations, to what happens on the track.
“But [in Singapore], from the get-go the tyres, driver and car were just in sync and not to be beaten.”
Mercedes’ breakthrough weekend in Singapore highlights how volatile the ground-effect era of Formula 1 remains. Even dominant teams can falter if they miss the performance sweet spot — while others, like Russell and Mercedes, can rise unexpectedly when everything clicks.
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