Mercedes driver George Russell is calling for patience with Formula One’s controversial new regulations following his victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday.
The sweeping rule changes have drawn harsh criticism from several top competitors, including four-time world champion Max Verstappen and defending champion Lando Norris, who have expressed frustration with the new hybrid engine systems that prioritize power management and energy recovery.
Russell, who secured the win from pole position with teammate Kimi Antonelli finishing second in a Mercedes one-two finish, suggested his competitors might view the changes differently if they had claimed victory at Albert Park.
“Everyone’s very quick to criticise things. You need to give it a shot,” Russell stated during the post-race media session.
“We’re 22 drivers. When we’ve had the best cars and we’ve been happiest, everyone moans the racing’s rubbish,” he continued. “Now drivers aren’t perfectly happy and everyone said it was an amazing race. So you can’t have it all.”
Norris, who placed fifth on Sunday, maintained his negative stance on the regulations after previously stating the cars had deteriorated from the “best to the worst” following Saturday’s qualifying session.
“It’s a shame, it’s very artificial, depending on what the power unit decides to do and randomly does at times,” Norris explained. “You just get overtaken by five cars or you can just do nothing about it sometimes. There’s nothing we can change about it, so there’s no point in saying any more, but not for me.”
Verstappen expressed hope that Formula One officials and the governing FIA would address driver concerns and implement modifications.
“If it’s drivers, fans, we just want the best for the sport. It’s not that we are critical just to be critical,” Verstappen said. “We are critical for a reason, we want it to be Formula One you know, proper Formula One on steroids. Today, of course, again, that was not the case.”
The race featured an exciting battle between Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished third, as they exchanged the lead seven times during the opening nine laps.
Despite the spectacle for spectators, Leclerc noted that the new engine technology has altered how drivers approach passing maneuvers.
“Before it was more about who is the bravest at braking the latest,” the Monaco native observed. “Now there’s a bit more of a strategic mind behind every move you make because every boost activation you know you’re going to pay the price after that.”
