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George Russell’s Insight into Mercedes’ 2025 F1 Prospects: First Five Laps to Predict the Season

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
February 22, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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George Russell relishes Qatar GP front-row showdown, frustrated by McLaren’s Sprint tactics

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - November 30, 2024 Mercedes' George Russell after qualifying in second place REUTERS/Rula Rouhana

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Formula 1 driver George Russell has shared his belief that the initial “five laps” of driving the 2025 Mercedes car will be instrumental in predicting the team’s performance for the season. This forthcoming season will be a transition for Russell, as he steps into the team leader role previously held by Lewis Hamilton, whose recent departure to Ferrari followed a period of disillusionment with Mercedes’ performance since the 2022 regulation change.

The 2022 regulatory shift coincided with Russell’s introduction to the team, marking a challenging period for Mercedes. Despite achieving four victories in the 2024 season, the performance of the W15 car was inconsistent, leading to a slide to fourth place in the standings.

However, Russell asserts that Mercedes has been meticulously preparing during the off-season to decrease the potential for unforeseen difficulties. Using the W16 car during pre-season testing, he believes he can ascertain if the team’s approach has been successful.

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“Within the first five laps, one can typically gauge if the season is going to be successful,” Russell shared with a select group of media, including Motorsport Week, at the F1 75 launch event in London. He highlighted that in recent years, the team had early indications that they wouldn’t be contenders for the championship. However, with a robust preparation approach this season, he remains hopeful despite the increased competitiveness amongst the teams.

Russell also shared that wind tunnel tests have forecasted a significant improvement for Mercedes, the eight-time Constructors’ Champions. However, he cautioned that the issues teams have faced with the current cars hint that expected performance does not always translate to the track.

“Despite optimistic predictions, there are no guarantees in this sport,” he stated. “We’ve learned this the hard way when we failed to secure a single win in 2023. However, with James Allison [Mercedes Technical Director] spearheading a new approach, I’m hopeful that we’ll witness a positive shift in 2025.”

Russell also discussed the challenges Mercedes faced with the return to ground effect cars, notably the unexpected ‘porpoising’ that masked some of the weaknesses in the Mercedes vehicle. He explained that it took the team about 18 months to address these issues, which included changing the suspension and dealing with the subsequent balance problem.

“It’s a process that demands time and patience,” Russell said. “Sometimes, when a certain approach works, it’s not immediately clear why. Our domination in Las Vegas last year is a case in point. While we have theories, there’s nothing concrete to explain our strength there, or our weaknesses elsewhere.”

Looking ahead, Russell has expressed confidence in the work done on the team’s simulator, praising the efforts of the simulator drivers and Kimi Antonelli. He believes that the work they’ve done will help Mercedes avoid the pitfalls they’ve encountered in the past.

In conclusion, Russell’s prediction that the first ‘five laps’ will set the tone for Mercedes’ 2025 F1 season is an affirmation of the team’s rigorous preparation and a testament to his optimism. Time will tell if this confidence will translate into a successful season for the team.

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