Toto Wolff expects Mercedes’ primary rivals to have a “efficiency benefit” early on within the 2025 F1 season.
The 2025 F1 season formally kicks off this weekend with the primary race on the Australian Grand Prix.
After three days of pre-season testing on the finish of February, the true pecking order is unclear because of the unusually cool circumstances in Bahrain.
Mercedes arguably loved their finest take a look at since 2020, with the W16 trying attached on monitor.
In keeping with the race simulations from the Bahrain take a look at, Mercedes have been second-fastest behind McLaren, though the same old caveats apply.
Regardless of a robust take a look at, Wolff has predicted Ferrari, Pink Bull, and McLaren “particularly” to have the sting within the early races.
“With George and Kimi, two homegrown skills from our junior programme graduates, we’ve a robust driver line-up that mixes expertise, youth, and uncooked pace,” Wolff stated. “It’s an thrilling duo that can lead us into our subsequent period.
“As a staff, we had an uphill problem over the winter. Our opponents completed 2024 strongly and we all know that Ferrari, Pink Bull, and McLaren particularly, ought to have a efficiency benefit over us initially.
“We could be happy with the work we’ve finished within the low season, and the take a look at in Bahrain. Each drivers commented favourably on the W16 after the three days, and we appear to have made enhancements.
“After all, the one factor that issues is how we measure up in opposition to the stopwatch relative to our opponents. We will definitely start to get a clearer image on that this weekend.”
A brand new period for Mercedes with out Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes will race in Australia with out Lewis Hamilton for the primary time since 2012.
18-year-old wonderkid Andrea Kimi Antonelli will make his F1 debut this weekend for Mercedes after Wolff selected the Italian over a lot of skilled choices, together with Carlos Sainz, as Hamilton’s substitute.
George Russell will spearhead the staff after a formidable 2024 marketing campaign the place he dismantled Hamilton, significantly in qualifying.
Russell feels he’s able to win a world title and has proven he’s not afraid to go head-to-head with reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen.
Mercedes have struggled for consistency because the begin of the bottom impact period in 2022.
The massive query mark over their tempo in pre-season testing was that it passed off in cooler circumstances.
Mercedes usually thrived when it was colder in 2024 – however struggled when it was scorching.
