2025 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[Lasssept]

[Lasssept]

[AR3-GP]

It’s early but Mercedes looks quite strong.

[Jdn1327]

From the first 2 races and from what I can see here. Mercedes and especially Russell look like solid title contenders at this point. Mclaren are a bit ahead but their drivers are very mistake prone. Russell has been the driver of the season thus far...goes to show what a little confidence in being number 1 can do. Well done.

[f1isgood]

I think Russell can win the title this year, if Mercedes actually develop well and I think they will.

[kurtj]

There are 2 areas that Mercedes need to improve, which can bring them closer to McLarens. Slow speed corners and tire management. Both are largely mechanical side of the enhancements. So they can put in a lot of effort without going to wind tunnel or CFD, which I am guessing are pre-occupied with 2026 model.

[r85]

It’s early but Mercedes looks quite strong.

They need to win Japan and/or Jeddah to stay close in the championship, the car is good everywhere except in the slow speed corners. Not the worst compromise considering it helped Red Bull quite a lot in recent years.

[f1isgood]

It’s early but Mercedes looks quite strong.

They need to win Japan and/or Jeddah to stay close in the championship, the car is good everywhere except in the slow speed corners. Not the worst compromise considering it helped Red Bull quite a lot in recent years.

I think that's not strictly necessary with 22 more races to go. All Mercedes need is upgrades to work well and then McLaren will take points off each other for Russell to capitalize.

[r85]

It’s early but Mercedes looks quite strong.

They need to win Japan and/or Jeddah to stay close in the championship, the car is good everywhere except in the slow speed corners. Not the worst compromise considering it helped Red Bull quite a lot in recent years.

I think that's not strictly necessary with 22 more races to go. All Mercedes need is upgrades to work well and then McLaren will take points off each other for Russell to capitalize.

True, they're already down 9 points on Red Bull last year who didn't have a sprint race to add points to that tally. The only question is when and if Antonelli starts building up more momentum to be in the Top 5, because the one thing that might not work in his favor is having a similar driving style to Lewis as he stated and that didn't work well with the Mercedes of recent years. But he is young so he'll most likely adapt.

[ringo]

I think Russell can win the title this year, if Mercedes actually develop well and I think they will.

I tend to agree. Car looks strong and driver is confident and flawless.
Shame Lewis bailed out, but it would have been a bigger headache for the team with the 2 of them.

Russel can win if Mclaren trips up.
It is yet to be seen how well the W16 runs with a normal race weekend on race pace. We should see that now.

[Lasssept]

[SB15]

Fantastic Lap by Max! Can't lie.

Looks like the W16 suffers from tyre warmup and I wouldn't doubt it that Mercedes are looking into how the Mclaren operates and generate heat into its tyres and also other mechanical things like how it suffers from either loss of grip in low speed corners or understeer; so suspension and brake upgrades maybe are in the works and will show until next week. Glad this mistake happened from the team and George so they know what not to do next time. Tomorrow is another day!

[Lasssept]

[Waz]

Tires, tires, tires

[maygun]

Fantastic Lap by Max! Can't lie.

Looks like the W16 suffers from tyre warmup and I wouldn't doubt it that Mercedes are looking into how the Mclaren operates and generate heat into its tyres and also other mechanical things like how it suffers from either loss of grip in low speed corners or understeer; so suspension and brake upgrades maybe are in the works and will show until next week. Glad this mistake happened from the team and George so they know what not to do next time. Tomorrow is another day!

Not sure how you came to the conclusion about the tyre warmup problem?

Shovlin and George both said they targeted a lower temp in the beginning of the lap so it would be easy to push in the end, but they overshoot in their estimates and started with a cold tyre that doesn't have grip in the beginning, while recovering in the end.

I don't think it is warming-up issue, but lasting and staying in the performing window for the whole lap is the issue, which probably needs to be addressed, as you said, with mechanical fine-tuning.