George Russell, the highly anticipated Mercedes W16 driver, has finally shared his initial impressions after a session testing the car on the Bahrain track. However, he was careful not to reveal too much, stating that it’s crucial not to “jump to any conclusions.”
Mercedes revealed the W16 on Monday through a series of renderings, and the vehicle made its debut on the tarmac just a day later. This was part of a filming day in preparation for the pre-season testing scheduled to commence on Wednesday.
The W16, as dissected by tech expert Matt Somerfield, boasts a number of modifications. These include an overhauled nose, alterations to the front wing, a reimagined floor and rear suspension, and a revamped shark fin engine cover.
Russell had the honour of clocking the first laps in the W16 before passing the baton to his new teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli, an Italian teenager, steps into the shoes left by seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton who has since joined Ferrari.
While Mercedes offered fans a sneak peek through several videos of the teammates in action, they remained tight-lipped on the specifics. The team didn’t disclose any data including lap times or lap count.
When pressed for his initial thoughts on the 2025 Mercedes F1 car, Russell remained coy. He revealed, “It’s great to finally get behind the wheel of the W16. There’s been so much hard work poured into this new car. My morning session was silky smooth, and we managed to accomplish everything we set out to do with the car.”
However, he refrained from divulging any specifics, adding, “There definitely are some first impressions, which I’ll keep to myself and the team for now.”
Despite a disappointing 2023 season with no wins, Mercedes managed to bounce back last year with four victories. However, they slipped to fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing behind McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull.
As for Russell, he finished sixth in the Drivers’ standings, with Hamilton taking the seventh spot in his last season with the Silver Arrows. Russell expressed his excitement for the upcoming season, stating, “I’m super excited for the year ahead. This time of year is always filled with anticipation. I can’t wait for the next three days of testing, and of course, the first race in Melbourne. Hopefully, we’ll be in the thick of the fight.”