Mercedes introduced their W16 car in a digital launch on Monday, marking a fresh chapter ahead of pre-season testing following the exit of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Italian 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli steps in to replace Hamilton, now 40 and driving for Ferrari, joining Britain’s George Russell alongside experienced reserve driver and former Mercedes racer Valtteri Bottas.
“We open an exciting new era in the story of our team and Mercedes-AMG motorsport in 2025. We are building on the incredible legacy of our heritage, and we can’t wait to go racing,” said team boss Toto Wolff. He acknowledged the team’s progress in the off-season but emphasized that true performance will be revealed at the season opener in Australia.
Wolff highlighted Russell’s role as the ‘senior driver’ entering his seventh season, guiding the team while Antonelli embarks on his rookie campaign with expected ups and downs.
Mercedes, winners of a record eight consecutive constructors’ championships from 2014 to 2021, finished fourth last season. Technical director James Allison noted that stable regulations made significant lap time gains difficult, but the team focused on resolving past weaknesses.
“Our primary focus has been on dialling out the W15’s slight reluctance to turn in slow corners, along with the imbalance in tyre temperatures that made the car inconsistent from session to session. We are pleased with our progress over the winter and we’re looking forward to finding out where we stack up against everyone else,” Allison stated.
He anticipates a competitive season with multiple winners, potentially exceeding the four teams and seven drivers that claimed victories last year.
The season begins in Australia on March 16, with Mercedes-powered McLaren defending their constructors’ title while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen targets his fifth consecutive drivers’ championship.
Source: Swifteradio.com
