Mercedes F1 has begun the season with confidence, as George Russell steps up as a leader, guiding the team through early success.
Two podiums in as many races and a solid second-place position in the Constructors’ Championship – Mercedes F1 has quietly kicked off its season with a promising start.
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ Chief Race Engineer, commented on the team’s efficient yet low-key start to the season.
“Well, it’s been much quieter than previous years, mainly because the car is exactly what we wanted it to be,” Shovlin confirmed at a press conference in Shanghai.
Is the era of divas finally over at Mercedes F1?
“Our car doesn’t really have the issues we’ve faced in previous seasons, and that’s thanks to the good work done over the winter. There was also solid work last year to understand the problems. So far, we haven’t been to many circuits, but the car has performed well on those we’ve visited and in various conditions. It’s definitely a positive sign.”
Shovlin added that, while they haven’t learned anything new since the middle of last season, their efforts in the simulator over the winter have paid off.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve learned anything new that we didn’t know by mid-season last year. Where we’ve really improved is in following up on the car’s development during the winter. We made sure the solutions we introduced for the balance issues were appropriate. The process has been far more consistent than in recent years, and there were no surprises during pre-season testing. So far, the results on track have matched our expectations. There’s still work to do to catch McLaren, but it’s the usual development process.”
However, Shovlin acknowledged that McLaren F1 seems to be pulling ahead in the Constructors’ standings.
“There’s clearly a gap to close with McLaren, but it feels more like a normal development race for us, rather than a battle against the kind of handling issues we’ve had in the past.”
With Mercedes struggling last year, could this weekend’s Grand Prix be a true test for the team?
“I wouldn’t say it’s a make-or-break test. In some ways, Bahrain might be more interesting because it’s a circuit where the rear tires overheat, which has been one of our biggest problems. It’s a different circuit. During free practice, the car seemed to work well. It also looks like McLaren is the team to beat. But the weekend has started well, and we’ll see how things evolve in the coming sessions.”
George Russell Embraces His Leadership Role
George Russell has been a strong performer for Mercedes F1, scoring two third-place finishes in a row. Could he become a title contender? Shovlin doesn’t rule it out.
“Internally, he’s very calm and confident. He’s done an excellent job in the first two races, which is very encouraging. He seems very comfortable in his role within the team now, focusing on scoring points and achieving the best possible qualifying positions. His pole position in China was particularly promising. He’s pushing us forward and doing a lot of work on his side too.”
Russell has gradually embraced his leadership position within Mercedes F1, a shift Shovlin has observed closely.
“It’s inevitable that things change when you have an experienced driver like George and a rookie like Kimi. The two of them work together, and George is doing his best to share his experience with Kimi. I’d say George has really taken this role to heart as the most experienced driver on the team. We knew he was fast, but his approach has brought a calm confidence that’s benefiting us enormously. Take the Melbourne race, for example – George communicated very well with us about the weather conditions and what he was feeling in the car. We used much of that information to adjust Kimi’s strategy, as a lot of things were new to him. It’s really nice to see how well they work together, and how George has stepped into that leadership role.”
Kimi Antonelli: A Rising Star
Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli has impressed Shovlin and the Mercedes F1 team.
“Yes. We’ve worked a lot with Kimi on older cars to get him used to F1 driving. We tried to do this in a relatively short amount of time. From the first time we put him in an F1 car, we could see he was going to be a good F1 driver, and we had high expectations. If you look at his performance in the wet conditions in Melbourne, it was truly exceptional for someone in their first race. Although he’s done a lot of miles with us in private testing, it was the first time we saw him race in a pack, so it was a new experience for him.”
“He was unlucky with damage in qualifying in Melbourne and then again on the first lap in China. But from what we’ve seen, we’re really impressed and reassured. There’s nothing but progress ahead for him.”
Looking Forward
As the season progresses, Mercedes F1 is on a clear path of stability and consistent growth. With a strong start and a focus on development, the team is poised to continue improving. Russell, now fully embracing his leadership role, and Antonelli, a promising rookie, represent the future of Mercedes F1 as they work together to push the team forward.
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Mercedes F1’s Stable Start: Russell Leads with Confidence Mercedes F1’s Stable Start: Russell Leads with Confidence