Mercedes looking for confirmation at the Suzuka circuit
The Constructors’ Championship standings don’t lie: Ferrari and Red Bull have issues to resolve—different in nature, but neither the SF-25 nor the RB21 has been convincing so far—while Mercedes appears solid, trailing only McLaren, which has picked up where it left off in 2024 and started 2025 as the team to beat.
George Russell has secured two third-place finishes and in China managed to split the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in qualifying, taking a front-row start. Meanwhile, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has consistently scored points, contributing to Mercedes’ current second-place position in the standings, with a comfortable margin over Red Bull and Ferrari.
Toto Wolff previewed the Suzuka weekend, where Mercedes aims to cement itself as McLaren’s closest challenger: “In the upcoming triple-header, we’ll focus on building on our solid start to the season. So far, the W16 has proven to be stable and consistent, a car that gives the drivers confidence. This has led to strong performances in Australia and China, making this our best season start since 2021. However, we know we need to find more performance to stay at the top. Development is no small task. The races in Japan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia will be about maximizing what we currently have, and I’m sure our rivals will fight back.
Suzuka, with its fast corners and elevation changes, is a true test for both driver and car. For Kimi, this will be his first experience on this track, and while it’s a new challenge for him, he’s eager to take it on. So far, he has handled everything thrown at him brilliantly. As for George, he’s never started a Formula 1 season this well. He has shown maturity, consistency, and speed. He’s doing exactly what we knew he would as a true leader, and he’ll be looking to keep up this level of performance in Japan.” – the Mercedes team principal concluded.
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