The World Championship Begins
The 2025 Formula 1 World Championship will start this weekend at the Melbourne track, with a team widely regarded as the favorite: McLaren, which triumphed in the Constructors’ Championship last year. What was seen in the Bahrain tests has led observers and insiders to point to the Woking team as the front-runner for the start of the season.
The head of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, shares the same view: “After the tests, the four teams seemed level on a single lap, perhaps with a slight advantage for Lando Norris. But on race pace, the two McLarens are clearly ahead, then Max Verstappen, us, and Ferrari chasing.” – the Austrian pointed out ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend.
A lot will depend on updates during the season, as was the case last year: “Our ambition is to fight for the championship, and it will be a close battle between four teams that can win. You can be first or eighth. The biggest difficulty will be developing the current car while also focusing on the 2026 car. A lot of flexibility will be required,” Wolff explained in an interview with the Austrian broadcaster ORF.
Kimi Antonelli‘s Prospects
There is, of course, a lot of curiosity around Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who at just 18 years old will make his Formula 1 debut behind the prestigious Mercedes wheel. Toto Wolff explained: “We’ve been with Andrea since he was 11, and since then, he has won everything in every category. He has driven 11,000 kilometers in our old F1 cars. However, when you’re thrust into F1 at 18, you have to be careful not to lose your way, which is why we try to temper expectations for his start.” – he pointed out.
Closing remarks on the rumors about a possible candidacy of Susie Wolff for the presidency of the FIA: “Someone spread this rumor to create a stir, but it’s not true. Not that I know of. Susie is an entrepreneur,” concluded the Mercedes team principal and co-owner.
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