On the day of the W16 presentation, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff speaks of a new era, with the biggest novelty being the arrival of the 18-year-old Italian, who has already generated massive interest even before making his debut. However, the “captain” role rests on George Russell‘s shoulders: he must now be the experienced leader and the team’s main driver.
“2025 marks an exciting new era in the history of our team and Mercedes-AMG motorsport. We are building on our incredible legacy and can’t wait to start racing.”
It is hard to disagree with Toto Wolff when he talks about a new era for Mercedes. It could not be otherwise, as for the first time in 12 years, Lewis Hamilton is not the one unveiling the new single-seater. A driver who gave so much to the Brackley-based team, securing six Drivers’ World Championships and contributing to the eight Constructors’ titles won, but who is now defending Ferrari’s colors.
However, it is now time to turn the page and look to the future. This is the final season under the current set of regulations, which reintroduced ground-effect cars, and Mercedes hopes that the W16 can mark a turning point after three years in which victories have come, but the Silver Arrows have often been only the fourth-best team on the grid.
“All team members at Brackley and Brixworth have worked hard over the winter. Last season was incredibly competitive on track, and although we secured several wins, we are all focused on achieving victories more consistently. We have made progress over the winter, but we will only know where we truly stand after the first race in Australia,” said Wolff.
As mentioned, Hamilton is no longer there, but George Russell has been confirmed, and in the latter part of last season, he proved he is finally ready to compete on equal footing with the top drivers in the category. Under his wing, another talent will have to develop—one who, like the Briton, has grown within Mercedes’ junior ranks: Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Despite being only 18 years old, he needs little introduction, as he has been regarded as a prodigious talent since childhood.
“We have an exciting lineup that will help us achieve our goals. Both drivers have risen through our junior program, confirming our commitment to supporting and developing talent,” said Toto.
“George has proven to be one of the best drivers on the grid, capable of competing for the Drivers’ Championship if we provide him with a car that allows him to do so. As the more experienced driver, he will help guide the team and support Kimi in his development.”
“Kimi has all the talent needed to achieve great results at the pinnacle of this sport, but this is a rookie season, and there will inevitably be ups and downs. We look forward to embarking on this journey together and helping him grow throughout the year.”
For now, however, Wolff prefers not to make predictions or set specific targets, fully aware that it will be a highly challenging season with very close competition among the top teams: “It will be an extremely competitive season. Last year, we saw how tight the field was. From one race to the next, it was impossible to predict who would be ahead, and I expect this year to be even more fiercely contested. We will have to give our absolute best if we want to compete for the championship this season,” he concluded.
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