A stellar Russell and a talented Antonelli aren’t enough to deliver a consistent season for Mercedes, plagued by reliability issues and a lack of competitiveness.
Mercedes entered the 2025 season with high expectations and the prospect of a radical change. During the winter, George Russell spoke of the hope for a more consistent car, while the arrival of young Andrea Kimi Antonelli was seen both as a gamble and a strong vote of confidence in the future.
As has been the case in Brackley since 2022, the season has been a rollercoaster: a few almost-perfect weekends, like in Canada or China, alternating with challenging races marked by a lack of performance and far too many reliability issues. At mid-season, Toto Wolff’s team is consistently fighting for podiums but remains well behind Ferrari (-24 points) and, above all, McLaren (-323 points).
The car
The new W16 has repeatedly reached the front rows in qualifying thanks to Russell, but various technical issues and the usual inconsistency of the Silver Arrows have prevented the team from collecting the heavy points they had hoped for. Introduced upgrades haven’t always worked, and in Hungary Antonelli had to revert to the old suspension to regain feeling with the car after a series of tough weekends. Yet in Budapest, Russell spoke of a “big step forward” after his podium—could the team finally be finding the right technical direction?
The drivers
Following Lewis Hamilton’s departure, George Russell has become Mercedes’ leader. Several podiums—some achieved even ahead of one of the two McLarens—and a victory in Canada have cemented him as one of the season’s top drivers; not surprisingly, Toto Wolff has called him “one of the three best drivers in Formula 1.” Disappointments, however, remain: in Jeddah and Imola, the British driver openly described weekends as “among the worst for Mercedes in recent years,” revealing his frustration with a car that hasn’t always been up to the mark.
For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, his Formula 1 debut has been a baptism by fire. Often hampered by technical issues—like in Australia, Imola, and Spain—the young Bolognese has never been discouraged, showcasing both talent and speed. His comeback fourth place on debut in Melbourne, the sprint pole in Miami, and the podium in Canada are proof of this. A few rookie mistakes, such as in Monaco qualifying or the collision with Max Verstappen in Austria, were to be expected. The overall impression, however, is that Mercedes has found a raw diamond on which to build its future.
Best race
Canada remains the high point of Mercedes’ season. Pole position and victory for Russell, along with a podium for Antonelli, marked a weekend dominated from start to finish, where the Brackley team even outperformed the unstoppable McLaren.
Worst race
The lowest point came shortly before, in Monaco. On a circuit where overtaking is nearly impossible, with Antonelli out in Q1 due to a crash and Russell hampered in Q2 by a mechanical issue, the race started uphill for Toto Wolff’s men. By the finish, neither car reached the points, amid frustration over the usual Monaco “train” and Williams’ strategy.
What to expect from the rest of the season
Mercedes needs to find the consistency it has been searching for since early 2022. The decision to revert to the old suspension in Hungary seems to have brought confidence and positive signs, with Russell on the podium and Antonelli in the points. The goal is to capitalize on any missteps from Ferrari and secure second place in the championship.
For Russell, the priority will be to remain consistent at the front, aiming to snatch third place in the championship from Verstappen, currently 15 points ahead, while Antonelli will need to keep developing, minimizing mistakes and learning to better handle pressure and challenging weekends.
Rumors about Verstappen and the driver market have stirred the atmosphere and undoubtedly drained mental energy from on-track action, but Toto Wolff recently reaffirmed his confidence in the current duo. With speculation set aside, the second half of the season will be crucial for regaining the early-season rhythm.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG F1
