Mercedes Summons Russell, Antonelli for Emergency Meeting After Performance Drop

Mercedes has called an emergency meeting at their Brackley base involving drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli following a significant drop in performance observed since the mid-season European races, particularly at the Belgian Grand Prix. Despite a strong start to the 2025 season, including multiple podiums and Russell's maiden victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, recent updates to the car have destabilized its balance, leading to rear instability and a loss of pace. Russell and team engineers are investigating whether the FIA's flexi-wing directive introduced in Spain contributed to the downturn, though other changes to the car are also under scrutiny. Both drivers have struggled with the car's handling, resulting in mistakes and poorer race results, with Antonelli failing to score points at Spa and Russell finishing fifth but well behind the leaders. Mercedes aims to understand the causes behind these issues before the Hungarian Grand Prix and the summer shutdown, hoping to revert or adjust recent modifications to regain competitiveness. The meeting is part of a broader effort to address the car's performance problems amid growing pressure from rival teams like Ferrari and McLaren.