While McLaren is off to a strong start to the 2025 Formula 1 season, with Lando Norris winning the Australian Grand Prix and Oscar Piastri taking the win at the Chinese Grand Prix, Mercedes might be the big surprise on the grid. George Russell finished on the podium in both Melbourne and Shanghai and with young rookie Kimi Antonelli finishing in the points in each race this season, the Silver Arrows head to Suzuka for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix sitting second in the Constructors’ Championship standings, 21 points behind McLaren.
Speaking in the team’s media preview of the Japanese Grand Prix, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff stated that the team hopes to build on their “solid start” to the season in Japan.
“We will be aiming to build on our solid start to the season in the upcoming triple-header. The W16 has proved a stable and consistent platform so far, and a car that the drivers feel confident in. That led to good performances in Australia and China, and our best start to a season since 2021,” began Wolff.
The Mercedes boss was honest when looking at the big picture, noting that the other teams on the grid would not be standing still around them.
”We know we have more performance to find if we are to challenge at the very front race though. Development isn’t the work of a moment either. The races in Japan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia will therefore be about maximizing what we have right now,” added Wolff. “Our competitors will undoubtedly bounce back from the recent double-header, too. Therefore, we will need to be at our best if we want to continue our promising start.”
Wolff went on to praise both Russell and Antonelli, noting Russell’s strong start to the season and the impressive beginning to Antonelli’s career.
“Suzuka, with its fast sweeps and elevation change provide a proper test for both driver and car. This will be Kimi’s first experience there and, whilst it will be another new challenge for him, he will be looking forward to it. He has handled everything thrown at him so far, and we’re looking forward to seeing his continued development,” said Wolff.
“George meanwhile has enjoyed his strongest start to a season in his F1 career. He has delivered with maturity, consistency, and speed. He is performing exactly how we knew he would as the senior driver of the works Mercedes team. He will be looking to continue in that form in Japan this weekend,” added the Mercedes boss.
Last year’s trip to Suzuka was rather underwhelming for the Silver Arrows, as Russell finished seventh, two spots ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
But given their strong start, Mercedes might be eying some bigger returns this weekend in Japan.
