P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has admitted it is “quite a stretch” to expect Mercedes to be in title contention in F1 in 2025, despite being satisfied with his initial laps in the W16.
Heading into the upcoming campaign, George Russell is recognized as the team leader for Mercedes, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli replacing Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. Mercedes has focused on thorough processes over the winter to address the issues that affected them in the previous rules era. Despite winning four races in 2024, Mercedes finished fourth due to struggles with the W15 car. Russell had the opportunity to test the new W16 before the season, but chose to keep his first impressions private for now. He acknowledges the tough challenge of competing for the championship based on last year’s performances, but remains optimistic about maximizing results throughout the season. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff praised the positive dynamic brought by Antonelli and Russell, believing their combination of experience and freshness will benefit the team in the upcoming races.
