Mercedes went on their summer break after a first half of the season marked by contrasting performances. A promising start gave way to a challenging phase where, partly due to upgrades that did not deliver the expected results, the team experienced a noticeable drop in performance. The drivers also felt the effects, particularly rookie Kimi Antonelli, who, after a sensational debut, had to confront the difficulties of interpreting the car effectively. The highlight of the first 14 races was undoubtedly the Canadian Grand Prix, where George Russell claimed Mercedes’ only victory of the season so far. Paradoxically, however, that win created the illusion that the car package was on the right track, only for it to later be deemed ineffective. Team Principal Toto Wolff shared a detailed assessment of Mercedes’ first half of the 2025 season in a video released recently on the team’s official channels in Brackley.
Toto Wolff and the paradox of the Canadian victory: “it made us believe we were heading in the right direction”
The 2025 season has so far failed to reverse the trend Mercedes has faced since the introduction of the current technical cycle in 2022. The Silver Arrows experienced a two-faced first half of the season. In the opening quarter of the championship, Mercedes appeared to be the second strongest team on the grid, behind McLaren. With the arrival of the European leg of the season and an updated rear suspension that fell short of expectations, the team took a step back. “This season has been a mix of performances,” Toto Wolff stated in the mid-season review released by the team. “We started strong and collected several podiums. In qualifying, we were ahead, but then somehow the performance slipped from our grasp. This correlates closely with a particular upgrade we implemented.”
The one genuine highlight for the team came at the Canadian Grand Prix, when George Russell secured the first and only victory of the season, and Kimi Antonelli achieved his first career Formula 1 podium. “With the upgraded car, we dominated in Montreal, and that gave us plenty of reasons to believe the trajectory was correct. But over the following two months, we saw our performance decline. We reverted to the previous components, and in Hungary, it became clear that the car’s pace remained strong. We hope to continue this trend in the second half of the season.”
On Russell: “we couldn’t have asked for a better number one driver.” On Antonelli: “the ups and downs are part of the learning curve.”
Inside the Brackley garage, one positive has been George Russell, who, despite fluctuations in performance, has consistently maximized the potential of the W16, often going beyond what the car could deliver. “Even last year with Lewis, he started to show real pace,” Wolff commented on the British driver’s progression. “He delivers even when the car isn’t perfect, you can always rely on him. We couldn’t have asked for a better number one driver.” After a turbulent July marked by rumors—ultimately dispelled in Hungary—of a possible Max Verstappen transfer, George Russell is now waiting for confirmation about his place at Mercedes, at least for the next season.
The rookie Kimi Antonelli has been the one most affected by the team’s drop in performance. “Kimi had a very strong start in the wet at Melbourne, with an outstanding race. We never doubted his abilities, but we knew there would be highs and lows, which is part of the learning curve,” Wolff said, highlighting the talent nurtured within the Mercedes Academy. With the introduction of the updated suspension, Antonelli struggled to find the right feel and drivability. However, following the technical step-back in Budapest, the young Italian showed promising signs for the second half of the season. “We must remember he is only 18 and still has much to learn,” Toto Wolff added. “Some days he will make mistakes, and other days he will shine—it’s completely normal.”
What will the second half of the season hold for Mercedes?
In two weeks, the ten-race sprint will resume at Zandvoort, leading to the final checkered flag of this technical cycle before one of the most significant regulation changes in Formula 1 history takes effect. The W16 shown in Budapest gives Toto Wolff reason for cautious optimism, but the challenge to secure second place in the Constructors’ Championship will also depend on Ferrari, which appears to maintain a performance advantage despite recent difficulties in Hungary. “I think we are well-positioned to fight hard. The car has finally regained pace, and the drivers are in good shape,” said Wolff, though much of his attention is already focused on 2026. “Finally, we will leave behind the ground-effect cars, with which we struggled, and then we will have a completely new power unit. We have been focused on the project for a long time. A small dedicated team has been tasked with making this year’s car perform as best as possible, while research and development are fully focused on next year. The 2,000 people outside the Brackley and Brixworth race teams are all ready for 2026.”
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