Mercedes’ fight for second: how consistency could make them the top runner-up in F1. Mercedes aims to secure second in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship.

Mercedes is once again focused on confirming its position as the second-best team in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, reclaimed after the latest Grand Prix. To achieve this, Toto Wolff needs both W16 cars to perform consistently at the top.

Russell and Antonelli: a duo driving Mercedes’ resurgence

The Russell–Antonelli pairing has guided the Anglo-German team to 290 points in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship so far. This includes George Russell’s victory at the Canadian Grand Prix—the only win of the season for Mercedes—and eight podium finishes for the W16s. Only in Canada did rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli also reach the podium in third; the remaining seven podiums were earned by Russell.

Just behind the Silver Arrows is Scuderia Ferrari, trailing by only four points. Further back, Red Bull has 272 points, and thanks to Max Verstappen’s recent wins in Baku and Monza, the Austrian team could still return to the top. Despite these gaps, the overall feeling in the paddock seems to favor Brackley and Mercedes.

Why Mercedes is favored for second in the Constructors’ Championship

With Ferrari struggling with internal inconsistencies and Red Bull often fielding a single front-runner, Mercedes enjoys a strong driver pairing. So far, however, the team has only realized about half of its potential points. Across 17 races, George Russell has consistently extracted the maximum performance possible from the W16 each weekend.

For Kimi Antonelli, the rookie has faced several setbacks, particularly after the challenging weekend in Imola. Technical issues, strategy missteps, and bad luck have prevented the young Bolognese driver from fully expressing his potential, leading some critics to question his performance after a few lower finishes.

However, after Baku, Antonelli’s talent appears to be emerging once again, as if delivering a personal reckoning. Toto Wolff continues to guide and motivate him, fostering confidence and encouraging focus on trackwork from day one in Formula 1.

Seven Grands Prix left to reach the seasonal goal

Russell and Antonelli’s results over the last five Grands Prix:

These results highlight the W16’s potential, demonstrated through Russell’s strong season. Correct, consistent, and mistake-free, it has propelled him to fourth in the standings with 212 points. Meanwhile, his young teammate Antonelli still has a wide path to collect points, currently sitting at 78. These points are crucial for Brackley as Mercedes aims to secure second in the Constructors’ Championship, with seven Grands Prix remaining to consolidate their position as the world’s second-best F1 team.