George Russell reveals what ‘confident’ Lando Norris has just told him about McLaren’s 2025 F1 car

George Russell is tasked with leading the Mercedes Formula 1 team after the departure of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari for 2025.

The Brit will be joined by teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli in the final year before the 2026 F1 regulations, with Mercedes factory ‘noise’ suggesting they could dominate.

Russell finished sixth in the drivers’ championship last season, but suffered with an inconsistent car that was sensitive to different temperatures.

Mercedes did end the year positively and have worked hard this winter to widen the setup window of their car. If they have been successful, there could be a four-team fight for the title.

Russell has been surprised by Antonelli after just a few weeks together, noticing how good he is in front of the cameras for an 18-year-old.

It isn’t the only aspect of his off-track behaviour that will be scrutinised though, with team boss Toto Wolff calling Antonelli a ‘performance animal’ in briefings.

Lando Norris tells George Russell McLaren have ‘found a lot’ ahead of the 2025 F1 season

The team to beat this season is likely to be reigning constructors’ champions McLaren, who pipped Ferrari to the crown by 14 points at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

They marginally had the fastest machine and took a slight advantage into the off-season. McLaren’s ‘big step’ is a risk with their 2025 car, with some heavy investment in aggressive developments.

READ MORE: Gary Anderson names which F1 team has taken ‘bigger steps’ with their 2025 cars between McLaren and Ferrari

After one session of testing, it appears that the gamble may have paid off already. Russell reports that Lando Norris is already confident about the MCL39.

“I think McLaren are going to be pretty strong,” he told Motorsport.com.

“Lando said they’ve found a lot over the winter and he’s looking pretty confident. We all wish to have a close fight. There’s nothing more you can ask for.”

Mercedes and Kimi Antonelli enjoy promising start to F1 testing in Bahrain

Mercedes topped the timesheets during the first official session of the Formula 1 season in Bahrain, with the youngest driver on the grid above everyone on Wednesday morning.

Antonelli had completed the most laps (78) by lunchtime and made minimal mistakes in the W16. His intense preparation for his rookie season looks to have paid off.

Some fans may have spotted that Antonelli was on Russell’s side of the Mercedes garage. This is down to the Silver Arrows wanting to test systems on both halves of the team.

READ MORE: What Alex Brundle spotted Kimi Antonelli doing during F1 pre-season that shows his ‘confidence’ in Mercedes’ 2025 car

They have just under two weeks before the pressure ramps up and they have to run seamlessly at the Australian Grand Prix.

It will also mark the German manufacturer’s first race without Hamilton since the end of the 2012 season. Just two other drivers from that grid remain now.