Formula 1: Russell Optimistic About Mercedes' Development Yet Sees McLaren as Top Contenders

Melbourne, March 13 (NationPress) George Russell is confident that Mercedes has made advancements with their new Formula 1 car for the 2025 season, although he concedes that McLaren is, without question, the top contender heading into the Australian Grand Prix. Following a mixed 2024 season, which saw them achieve four race victories, including a 1-2 finish in Las Vegas, Mercedes faced inconsistency, ultimately placing fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing behind McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull.

After the pre-season testing in Bahrain, Russell feels optimistic about Mercedes' progress but remains cautious. “I mean, the car is feeling good, to be honest,” Russell remarked on media day. “Last year, even though we finished in the lowest order that we have done in the last three years, we won the most number of races. I have confidence that this car is going to be slightly more consistent, not quite as peaky.”

Russell acknowledged that while Mercedes might not achieve the extreme highs of last season, like their dominant win in Las Vegas, he hopes for fewer low points. “We might not see those mega highs like we saw in Vegas, sort of wiping the floor with everybody, but then hopefully we’re not going to see those lows as well that we saw at a few races,” he explained.

Despite the improvements at Mercedes, Russell emphasized that McLaren appears to be the team to beat at the season's start. “We can’t kid ourselves, we know McLaren are without doubt the favourites right now – they look absolutely dominant. I’m sure they’re going to be the ones to beat,” he stated.

When questioned about how soon the hierarchy will become clear in 2025, Russell reflected on the unpredictability of the previous season. “You look at the first six races of last year, and nobody would have predicted that Red Bull wouldn’t comfortably win both championships,” he said.

“Of course, they won with Max (Verstappen), but it wasn’t a walk in the park, or it shouldn’t have been a walk in the park. Lando (Norris) and McLaren kept them on their toes, and obviously McLaren won the Teams’ Championship.”

With a record 24-race calendar in 2025, Russell stressed the need for consistent development. “Anything can change very quickly now. Especially with a 24-race season, you’ve got to keep on working hard, you can’t give up, and it’s going to be very difficult for all teams to strike that balance between this season and then also into next.”

As Mercedes enters a new chapter following Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari, Kimi Antonelli is set to make his Formula 1 debut with the team. The talented Italian teenager, who has been highly regarded throughout his junior career, is excited yet keeping his expectations grounded. “It’s amazing. Obviously, it’s a dream come true. I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life. The winter felt pretty long, I’m not going to lie!” Antonelli said prior to the race weekend in Melbourne.

While he recognizes the challenges of stepping up to F1, Antonelli aims for a solid start. “I’m super happy to be here. I think it’s a special place to do the first Grand Prix. I’m really looking forward to seeing, once we hit the ground, how we can do.”

When asked about his weekend objectives, the rookie remained pragmatic. “It’s hard to say. I don’t really know what to expect because it’s my first Grand Prix, so I don’t want to set anything too high. I just want to do a clean weekend, with a nice rhythm, in order to be able to build up from that point.”

Fortunately for Antonelli, he is already familiar with Albert Park, having raced there in Formula 2 last year. “I know the track, so I don’t have to learn it. You understand the track, where you can overtake, where you can defend the best, so definitely racing here in F2 was a good help last year.”