Mercedes to Race Both F1 Cars With Touching Tribute to Departed Team Member

Newsweek

a day ago

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The Mercedes Formula One team has revealed a touching gesture to honor a team member who passed away last week. The tribute will be highlighted this weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Mercedes announced the passing of Mark Hudson, who worked in the team's Composite Build Department for 12 years. Honoring him, both Mercedes W16 F1 cars will feature the message:
"In memory of Mark Hudson."
Mercedes' British driver George Russell drives to the start of the first practice session at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, on June 27, 2025, ahead of the Formula One Austrian Grand...
Mercedes' British driver George Russell drives to the start of the first practice session at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, on June 27, 2025, ahead of the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix. More
Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP/Getty Images
A nice touch to the tribute is a 'Pre-fit OK' sticker above his name, which explains the nature of the role he performed. Mercedes revealed the special gesture on X, stating:
"In memory of our late and dear teammate.
"Last week, we sadly lost our colleague and friend Mark Hudson. Mark worked in our Composite Build Department for 12 years and was much loved by all at Lauda Drive. In his honour, we carry his name on our car this weekend.
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. ❤"
In memory of our late and dear teammate.
Last week, we sadly lost our colleague and friend Mark Hudson. Mark worked in our Composite Build Department for 12 years and was much loved by all at Lauda Drive. In his honour, we carry his name on our car this weekend.
Our thoughts… pic.twitter.com/rcH6aghCo0 — Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 27, 2025
Mercedes heads to the Red Bull Ring for the race weekend, coming off a dominant weekend in Canada, where George Russell secured his first win of the season, while his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured his first podium finish in the premier class of racing by finishing third.
The victory marked Russell's fifth podium finish of the season, suggesting his top form. However, Mercedes has yet to extend his contract, which expires at the end of 2025. Russell stated that he had met all performance expectations, but the team has yet to confirm his future seat officially. Newsweek Sports reported his comments:
"No major updates yet.
"It's not something that I'm pressing massively because, as I've always said, the performance is the priority, and I feel with the performance I'm showing at the moment - still in line with the performance I've shown over all these years - I've got zero reasons to be worried.
"But obviously, it does help if there was pen on paper. But let's see."
Russell also admitted that Mercedes was in talks with Max Verstappen following a failed attempt to have him on board last year. He added:
"From my side, I don't think I have anything really to worry about. I think, as a team, it depends where you put your aspirations.
"We're second best at the moment, maybe third best. We might be overperforming slightly to be second best.
"As Mercedes, they want to be back on top, and if you're going to be back on top you need to make sure you've got the best drivers, the best engineers, the best pit crew, and that's what Mercedes are chasing.
"So, it's only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing. But from my side, if I'm performing as I'm doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula 1 team."