P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has revealed that he will know within “five laps” of driving the 2025 Mercedes car whether or not the team is set to experience a “good season” in F1.
Russell is heading into the campaign as the team leader for Mercedes due to Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari. The team faced struggles in 2022, leading to a drop to fourth in the standings, but the W15 car’s erratic competitiveness was a significant factor. Despite this, Russell has confidence in Mercedes’ thorough preparations for the upcoming season. He believes that the early laps in pre-season testing will reveal if the team is on track for a successful year. Mercedes is expected to make a significant leap from last season, according to wind tunnel simulations, but there are no guarantees in Formula 1. Russell expressed optimism for a strong season ahead, highlighting the team’s restructure and changes made under Technical Director James Allison’s leadership.
