Mercedes have enjoyed a quietly successful start to the 2025 Formula 1 season and may be a dark-horse candidate for a world championship.
George Russell sits third in the drivers’ championship, just one point behind Max Verstappen after two races. He is yet to finish off the podium.
Mercedes have developed their car well over the winter and look set to be more of a threat at warmer circuits, where they struggled last year.
The upcoming Japanese Grand Prix is a track that their car didn’t like last year, with neither driver finishing inside the top six. It will be a serious challenge for them.
Kimi Antonelli found Suzuka scary in the Mercedes simulator as he prepares for his first outing at the track for the Silver Arrows.
Hopes of a good result may lie with their team leader, as fans are now certain Russell is the most ‘underrated’ F1 driver following nine top-five finishes in his last 10 races.
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George Russell is ‘surprised’ at Mercedes’ tyre warm-up progress with 2025 F1 car
Mercedes were at their strongest in 2024 in colder conditions. For some reason, it helped to bring their tyres into the perfect operating window.
After two races in warmer climates this year, they have been able to keep in touch with their rivals better than they had done previously.
It means that they have one less issue to focus on ahead of the 2026 F1 regulations. More time can be spent on next year’s car.
Lawrence Barretto believes that the Brit is surprised by the improvements made over the winter and that he didn’t expect the turnaround from his team.
“Even George is surprised at just how much of a turnaround that they’ve been able to generate heat in the tyres,” he said.
“Even when they were struggling actually to do tyre warm-up in the first couple of races, they found a way in a way that they weren’t able to do that in previous years. It’s really positive that that surprised him and they managed to get the job done.”
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Why George Russell can challenge for the F1 championship in 2025
After three seasons at Mercedes, it feels like Russell is finally ready to step up and not just lead the team, but lead a championship charge.
The Brit has both the speed and consistency to match those at the top of their game. He also knows how the likes of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris operate very well.
Mercedes have given Russell ‘optimism’ for the 2025 title by making sure that the team is very motivated to return to the top.
Their race pace isn’t quite where it needs to be, but as Formula 1 heads to Europe this month, the colder temperatures should play into their hands.
A Russell victory is inevitable at some stage, and he will be hoping to push beyond that and claim a maiden title between now and December.
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