Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has admitted that the team will have to be at its “very best” to be in a position to challenge for either Formula 1 title during the 2025 campaign.
The German marque embarked on the return to ground effect cars in 2022 touted as the side to beat having won an unrivalled eight straight Constructors’ Championships.
However, Mercedes has been unable to scale those heights since the most recent regulation change, securing five victories in the previous three seasons combined.
Mercedes endured more setbacks in 2024 as unanticipated complications with mid-season upgrades derailed a promising spell through the summer with the revised W15.
But having shown sporadic promise last year, Mercedes is endeavouring to unlock that potential on a more consistent basis this season to challenge the teams ahead.
“We open an exciting new era in the story of our team and Mercedes-AMG in 2025. We are building on the incredible legacy of our heritage, and we can’t wait to go racing,” Wolff said.
“Everyone at the team, in Brackley and Brixworth, has been hard at work over the winter.
“Last season was incredibly competitive on the track and, whilst we took several wins, we are all focused on challenging for victories more consistently.”
Wolff divulged that the simulations suggest Mercedes has made a sizeable step with the W16, though the team’s progress will be relative to what the competition has done.
“We have made gains in the off-season, but we will only know where we stand come the first race in Australia,” he continued.
“It is going to be a highly competitive season.
“We saw last year just how close the field was. You couldn’t say race-to-race who would be at the front, and I expect this year to be even closer.
“We will have to be at our very best if we want to challenge for championships this season.”
Mercedes begins new era without Hamilton
Mercedes will go into the season with a revised driver line-up as Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari has seen rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli be paired with George Russell.
Wolff harbours no doubts that Russell, now in his fourth season with the team, has the attributes to be involved in a title battle should Mercedes provide him with the tools.
The Briton will be tasked with spearheading the team’s charge as Antonelli, who has amassed over 10,000 kilometres in F1 cars, negotiates his debut campaign in the sport.
“We have an exciting line-up to help us achieve our objectives,” Wolff expanded.
“Both drivers have progressed through our junior programme and that is a vindication of our commitment to both supporting and developing talent.
“George has proven that he is one of the very best drivers on the grid, capable of competing for the Drivers’ Championship if we can give him a car capable of doing so.
“As the senior driver, he will help lead the team forward and support Kimi in his development.
“Kimi has all the necessary talent to achieve great things at the pinnacle of the sport, but this is a rookie season and there will inevitably be ups and downs.
“We’re looking forward to that journey together though and helping him develop over the course of the year.”
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