Russell: Suzuka "good test" of F1's new rules after "super boring" 2025 race

George Russell believes the Japanese Grand Prix will provide a tough “test” for the new Formula 1 regulations, after a “super boring” 2025 Suzuka race.

Suzuka is widely regarded as one of the best circuits on the calendar, with drivers enjoying the fast-flowing corners, while numerous championships being decided on the iconic layout add to the historic significance of the venue. 

But while qualifying has been a must-not-miss session in recent years, the racing action has been somewhat lacking.

With the new-for-2026 regulations, overtaking figures have increased dramatically. 

Overtake Mode and Straightline Mode have kept battling drivers closer together for longer, and early championship leader Russell believes this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix will provide a stern test for the improved action.  

“I think this is the argument. The previous generation of cars, we would say are perfectly suited to a track like Suzuka, because the cars in the past had a lot of high-speed downforce, and I think the lap times we saw last year were probably the fastest lap times we’ve ever seen in Suzuka, yet the race was super boring,” said Russell.

“So yes, we will be slower through the Esses this year, and I think it will probably be an easy one-stop, the same as last year. But it was an easy one-stop in China, and it was a very exciting race.

“I guess this will be a good test for the regulations, if this track now becomes an exciting race and it was once a boring race, that will be quite interesting.”

Mercedes has seen much of its early-season pace advantage gained on the straights, with Ferrari seemingly making up time in the corners.

With only two zones where the low-drag Straightline Mode can be activated at Suzuka, Russell remains confident that Mercedes can remain at the head of the field.

“It seems we have a low-drag car, which is good,” he continued. “I don’t know if it’s specifically due to the SM zones or if it’s the straight line itself.

Obviously, every straight line we’ve been on so far has been an SM zone, so we can’t really disconnect the two, but the general thought is probably correct.”