As the Australian GP approaches, it’s an exciting time for the Mercedes team. For the first time in twelve years, the German racing stable cannot rely on the skills of world champion Lewis Hamilton. Consequently, George Russell and the very young Andrea Kimi Antonelli are ushering in a new era in Melbourne. Toto Wolff has high expectations of the new duo, although he also knows that his rivals currently have the upper hand.
After the winter tests in Bahrain, we can only speculate about the new power dynamics in Formula 1. McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes are undoubtedly at the top of the order again, although Toto Wolff believes that the Silberpfeilen are currently lagging behind the competition. “With George and Kimi, two homegrown talents from our junior program, we have a strong driver lineup that combines experience, youth, and raw speed,” says Wolff. “It’s an exciting duo that will lead us into a new era.”
Is Mercedes Falling Behind?
“As a team, we faced a tough challenge over the winter,” he continued. “Our competitors ended 2024 strongly, and we know that Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren will likely have an edge over us at the start. That being said, we can be satisfied with the work we’ve done in the off-season. It seems we’ve made improvements – both drivers were positive about the W16 after three test days.”
Mercedes had a number of excellent tests in Bahrain. Unlike in previous years, the car seemed to thrive at the Bahrain International Circuit. In race simulations, George Russell and Antonelli were the second fastest behind McLaren, although the usual reservations apply. “The stopwatch is the ultimate determinant of our standing relative to our competitors,” Toto Wolff also knows. “We will certainly get a clearer picture of this over the weekend,” he concluded.
