George Russell reveals Mercedes optimism over 2025 car changes ahead of new F1 season

George Russell says Mercedes are “optimistic” over the impact of changes to their 2025 car that have “been in the pipeline for a long time”.

Following a run of eight successive constructors’ titles, Mercedes struggled upon the introduction of new regulations in 2022, winning just one race during that year and drawing a blank in 2023.

The Silver Arrows made some progress in 2024 as Russell and team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who has now departed for Ferrari, claimed two wins each, but inconsistency meant they finished almost 200 points back from champions McLaren in fourth in the constructors’ standings.

That was in part due to Mercedes starting the season well off the pace for a third successive campaign, but Russell is hopeful learnings made early last year can result in a stronger performance at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

Speaking at the team’s launch of their new partnership with adidas, Russell told Sky Sports: “There have been a lot of.. I wouldn’t say changes directly from last year to this year, these are things that have been in the pipeline for a long time, items that we couldn’t quite put on the car in 2024 but we’ve been working on them for a long time.

“We’re optimistic it will be a good step in the right direction. You obviously never know what your rivals are going to have done.

“Throughout this year, with the thought of 2026, whether people keep developing or not is going to be quite intriguing.”

Russell ‘absolutely’ ready to win championship

Russell’s time at Mercedes has coincided with the team’s regression from title contention, making it difficult for him to prove whether he has the tools to become a world champion.

The fact he finished ahead of Hamilton in two of their three seasons as team-mates is a pretty strong indicator of his pedigree, and Russell certainly does not lack self-belief.

Asked whether he is ready to claim a maiden title if Mercedes provide him with a championship-winning car, Russell said: “Absolutely. I feel ready, everybody in the team is so motivated.

“I feel that these years have sort of been trial and error, but every time we’ve had a chance to win, we’ve won.

“And that’s what gives me the optimism that if we do have the car, we can achieve it.

“We’re working as hard as we can for it to be this year, but everybody is fully on board and it’s going to be an exciting season.”

Mercedes have confirmed they will officially launch their 2025 challenger, the W16, on February 24.

Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime