Jolyon Palmer has ‘no confidence’ that eight-time F1 champions can improve ahead of the 2025 season

Red Bull has dominated the ground effect era in Formula 1, having won all three Drivers’ Championships with Max Verstappen since 2022.

Red Bull were particularly quick over the past couple of years before suffering a more difficult campaign this season as McLaren won the Constructors’ Championship.

The ground effect cars introduced unique problems such as porpoising as teams ran the cars too low to the track at times a couple of seasons ago.

Constructors’ Championship winners McLaren have been the only team that consistently improved. After starting in the midfield, they are now challenging at the front.

Aston Martin had a brief upturn in form last year but has since dropped back to the midfield, although Fernando Alonso can’t call 2024 a bad season as they signed Adrian Newey and worked on building the factory.

Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer feels that one team that has won eight world championships is unlikely to make a step forward next season.

Jolyon Palmer has ‘no confidence’ Mercedes will turn their form around in 2025

Mercedes have struggled since the ground effect regulations were introduced ahead of the 2022 season, with inconsistent cars that can be tricky to drive.

The Anglo-German team won several races this year, such as Lewis Hamilton’s emotional triumph at Silverstone.

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Events like this have been excellent but were flashes in the pan, followed by a run of races off the podium and fighting to finish in the top five.

George Russell won superbly at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, as Mercedes enjoyed the cold temperatures on the street track.

His teammate Hamilton was quick, storming through the field to take second place after starting 10th on the grid.

Palmer admitted Mercedes were very quick in Las Vegas. Still, the Brackley-based team’s lack of consistency since 2022 has left the former F1 driver with little confidence.

He told the F1: Chequered Flag podcast: “Las Vegas was the one where they had the best car. But Vegas is a freak circuit. It’s conditions that you don’t get anywhere else. Even Qatar was chilly the week after. It wasn’t Vegas level of cold. And they weren’t in the same ballpark.

“I just think with every year, 22 was a head scratcher. They came on strong. Russell won the race in Brazil. And you thought, ‘okay, maybe they’ve learnt for 23.’ No, 23 was a head scratcher. And then they came on strong. And Hamilton was good at the end of the year and had good races in Austin and the like, finished third in the championship.

“And you thought, ‘okay, 24, this is going to be their year.’ Now, 24 has been a head scratcher. And then Hamilton and Russell come on strong at the end of the year in Vegas. And you think, ‘okay, they’ll get it for 25.’ You get my drift. I have no confidence it’s going to happen, but we will see.”

Lewis Hamilton may have left Mercedes at the right time

Hamilton became increasingly frustrated at Mercedes over the past few seasons after having so much success and winning six world championships with the team.

The seven-time world champion also struggled to match his teammate in qualifying this season and lost out to Russell 19-5.

Hamilton is moving to Ferrari for next season and the Italian team just missed out on the Constructors’ Championship by 14 points to McLaren.

Charles Leclerc may be nervous about partnering with Hamilton, although the Monegasque should have an advantage over a single lap.