George Russell believes Mercedes’ W16 will be more consistent this season, but he sees McLaren as the early frontrunner in the title fight.
George Russell isn’t sure yet where Mercedes F1 stands in the pecking order at the start of the season, but one thing is clear to him—McLaren is the team to beat.
Speaking in Melbourne, the Mercedes driver shared his hopes for the W16, aiming for a car that’s less erratic than last year’s model.
“The car feels good. Last season, despite finishing lower in the standings than we have in three years, we actually won the most races. That just shows how tight the competition is.”
Russell believes the W16 will offer more stability: “I think this car will be a bit more predictable, less tricky to handle. We might not see the extreme highs like in Las Vegas, where we nearly dominated, but hopefully, we also won’t have the tough weekends we struggled through last year.”
Russell: “McLaren the Team to Beat, but Nothing Is Certain”
He remains realistic, though: “Let’s not kid ourselves—McLaren is the clear favorite right now. They look incredibly strong, and I have no doubt they’ll be the team to beat.”
When asked how long it will take to get a true picture of the 2025 pecking order, given the unique nature of Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit, Russell admitted: “Honestly, I don’t know.”
He pointed to how unpredictable last season was: “Look at the first six races of 2024—nobody would have guessed that Red Bull wouldn’t run away with both championships.”
“Sure, Max [Verstappen] won, but it wasn’t a walk in the park—or at least, it shouldn’t have been. Lando [Norris] and McLaren kept them under pressure, and in the end, McLaren took the team title.”
With a record-breaking 24-race calendar ahead, Russell knows nothing is set in stone. “Things change fast. We have to keep pushing, stay in the fight. Managing this season while preparing for the next will be a huge challenge for every team.”
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Russell Backs W16 to Deliver Stability in 2025 Battle Russell Backs W16 to Deliver Stability in 2025 Battle
