George Russell is maintaining it actual concerning Mercedes’ prospects for 2025, admitted it’s “fairly a stretch” to image the Silver Arrows battling for the world title.
Contemporary off his first laps within the Brackley squad’s new automobile, Russell’s maintaining his playing cards near his chest—however he’s not popping the champagne over their championship odds both.
Heading into his fourth yr with Mercedes, the 27-year-old Briton steps up as workforce chief, joined by rookie Kimi Antonelli, who fills the hefty sneakers left by Lewis Hamilton.
After a rollercoaster 2024 that noticed Mercedes snag 4 wins however hunch to fourth within the standings with an erratic W15, the workforce’s been burning the midnight oil to get it proper this time.
Russell’s cautiously optimistic in regards to the W16’s early vibes, however he’s not able to name it a game-changer.
“I’ve positively bought some first impressions, which I’ll preserve to myself for now,” Russell stated.
“It’s vital to not bounce to any conclusions as a result of we all know from final yr, circuit to circuit, the efficiency fluctuations had been large from the entire groups. From what I really feel to this point, I’m comfortable.”
A Lengthy Street to the Prime
Mercedes has been meticulous over the winter, decided to iron out the kinks which have plagued them for the reason that creation of the game’s ground-effect regs in 2022.
However Russell isn’t betting on a miracle turnaround. When pressed on their title hopes, he remained firmly grounded.
©Mercedes
“You at all times say you wish to combat for a championship however, being reasonable and understanding the place we completed final yr, that’s fairly a stretch,” he stated.
“However we all know that if we go in each single weekend and we attempt to maximise each single consequence, who is aware of the place that may take us?
“I’m simply going into each race as if it’s a race we are able to win and seeing the place that takes us over the course of the season.”
Give attention to the combat, not the fantasy, due to this fact. With McLaren, Pink Bull, and Ferrari setting the tempo in 2024, closing that hole seems like a tall order – even for a workforce with Mercedes’ pedigree.
Life After Lewis
Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari after seven titles with Mercedes has shaken issues up, and Russell feels the shift.
“Naturally, it does really feel totally different, in fact,” he stated. “Lewis is such an enormous character on and off the monitor however I believe everybody inside the workforce is form of very a lot excited for this subsequent chapter actually.
“Because the workforce might look on fond recollections, I additionally really feel grateful to have that likelihood being his teammate for 3 years and studying a lot from him but additionally going head-to-head with him instantly for 3 years.
“It seems like the top of a chapter however then you definately’re trying ahead to the subsequent journey.”
Group boss Toto Wolff echoed the sentiment, admitting that it feels “uncommon” to kick off a season with out Hamilton. However he’s buzzing in regards to the new dynamic with Antonelli.
“Kimi is of such nice worth to the workforce, the dynamic is so constructive and I see a little bit of a brand new buzz going by means of the workforce,” Wolff stated.
“Each of them are nice – between George’s expertise and Kimi’s freshness, we’re in a great place.”
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