Russell: 'Quite a stretch' to see Mercedes winning F1 title in 2025
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George Russell is keeping it real regarding Mercedes' prospects for 2025, admitted it's "quite a stretch" to picture the Silver Arrows battling for the world title.
Fresh off his first laps in the Brackley squad's new car, Russell's keeping his cards close to his chest—but he's not popping the champagne over their championship odds either.
Heading into his fourth year with Mercedes, the 27-year-old Briton steps up as team leader, joined by rookie Kimi Antonelli, who fills the hefty shoes left by Lewis Hamilton.
After a rollercoaster 2024 that saw Mercedes snag four wins but slump to fourth in the standings with an erratic W15, the team's been burning the midnight oil to get it right this time.
Russell's cautiously optimistic about the W16's early vibes, but he's not ready to call it a game-changer.
"I've definitely got some first impressions, which I'll keep to myself for now," Russell said.
"It's important not to jump to any conclusions because we know from last year, circuit to circuit, the performance fluctuations were massive from all of the teams. From what I feel so far, I'm happy."
A Long Road to the Top
Mercedes has been meticulous over the winter, determined to iron out the kinks that have plagued them since the advent of the sport's ground-effect regs in 2022.
But Russell isn't betting on a miracle turnaround. When pressed on their title hopes, he remained firmly grounded.
©Mercedes
"You always say you want to fight for a championship but, being realistic and knowing where we finished last year, that's quite a stretch," he said.
"But we know that if we go in every single weekend and we try to maximise every single result, who knows where that will take us?
"I'm just going into every race as though it's a race we can win and seeing where that takes us over the course of the season."
Focus on the fight, not the fantasy, therefore. With McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari setting the pace in 2024, closing that gap feels like a tall order – even for a team with Mercedes' pedigree.
Life After Lewis
Hamilton's move to Ferrari after seven titles with Mercedes has shaken things up, and Russell feels the shift.
"Naturally, it does feel different, of course," he said. "Lewis is such a huge personality on and off the track but I think everyone within the team is sort of very much excited for this next chapter really.
"As the team may look on fond memories, I also feel grateful to have that chance being his teammate for three years and learning so much from him but also going head-to-head with him directly for three years.
"It feels like the end of a chapter but then you're looking forward to the next journey."
Team boss Toto Wolff echoed the sentiment, admitting that it feels "unusual" to kick off a season without Hamilton. But he's buzzing about the new dynamic with Antonelli.
"Kimi is of such great value to the team, the dynamic is so positive and I see a bit of a new buzz going through the team," Wolff said.
"Both of them are great – between George's experience and Kimi's freshness, we're in a good spot."
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