**Mercedes Uses Last 'Joker' to Break Curfew for Urgent Repairs on George Russell's Car**

In a bid to get George Russell back on track after a severe crash during the second practice session in Mexico City, Mercedes has utilized its final 'joker' to break curfew for necessary repairs. The crash inflicted significant damage to Russell's W15 vehicle, necessitating extensive overnight work.

During the second practice session, Russell lost control of his W15 at Turn 8, which resulted in the car hitting the TecPro barriers with a 35G impact. Fortunately, the driver emerged without any physical injury, although he reported that the car felt like it started "bouncing along the ground" before spinning out of control.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff confirmed that despite the impact, the team's resources and parts were sufficient for the required repairs. Due to the severity of the damage, the team needed to work beyond the allowed hours, invoking their right to break curfew.

Formula 1 regulations have been tightening the limits on how long team members can work at the paddock, aimed at preventing exceedingly long hours and leveling the competitive field. In 2024, the regulations allow each team two ‘jokers,’ which permit breaking curfew twice without incurring penalties.

With this incident, Mercedes has now used their second and final ‘joker’ of the season. The team confirmed the repairs were completed in time for FP3, with the chassis replaced but the power unit and gearbox remaining intact.

The use of this last ‘joker’ underscores the delicate balance teams must maintain between repairing critical damage and adhering to increasingly stringent regulations. This development sets the stage for an exciting final practice session and an intense Grand Prix weekend in Mexico.