Ever since the FIA introduced the current cycle of technical regulations, Mercedes has been struggling to win races. But the Brackley-based team will want to end this era on a high note as the 2025 season approaches.
From 2014 to 2021, Mercedes won 8 consecutive Constructors’ Championships and 7 Drivers’ Championships. It seemed as though no other team could come close to them. But when the new set of technical regulations kicked in at the start of 2022, Mercedes fell hard. But last year, the team had a slightly positive season where they snagged a few race wins with both Hamilton and Russell. So what can we expect from them this year?
Mercedes wants to end the era on a high note
Given that a new set of technical regulations will take effect from 2026, this year will mark the final year of this era of cars. Given this fact, Mercedes will want to leave on a high note. Despite a few difficult years, the team has developed the car and could potentially improve this year.
Given Mercedes’ run of Championships during the turbo-hybrid era of Formula 1, we all know that the team is capable of rebuilding themselves and fighting for the Championship. Despite a major regulation change coming next year, Toto made it clear that they are still focused on trying to perform at their best level in 2025.
After pre-season testing in Bahrain, Mercedes appear to be the 4th fastest team on the grid, behind McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari. But we won’t know for certain until the first race as most F1 teams sandbag their cars in order to not reveal their true pace.
While the top 4 does look likely for Mercedes, there is one team that could threaten that position as well – Williams Racing. This year, Williams brought Carlos Sainz, which is a huge boost to the team. The Spaniard managed to log the fastest time across the 3 days of pre-season testing. While this is not a testament to the pecking order of the grid, it was an impressive showing by Williams. So they can threaten to take 4th place from Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship.
The new kid on the block
With Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari, Kimi Antonelli has joined the team to replace him. Antonelli is an 18-year-old Italian who is coming fresh off his first Formula 2 season. The only driver who was younger than Antonelli to make his F1 debut in recent years was Max Verstappne, who entered the sport at the age of 17.
Antonelli is an uncertainty for Mercedes. There is no doubt in that. While his track record is impressive, his time in Formula 2 last year was not. He finished 6th in the Championship with one feature race win and one sprint race win. But Toto Wolff was eager to bring him onboard the F1 team.
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Last year, he got the chance to drive the W15 during FP1 at Monza. This was his first official F1 outing during a race weekend. In his first lap, he set the fastest time, and in his second flying lap, he crashed his car. Maybe the young gun was too eager to impress the team and the hometown fans.
But there is also a good chance that Antonelli will do well with Mercedes. There has been talk about him being the next Verstappen, as he is entering the sport at such a young age and has the raw talent that can grow with the right support and guidance that Mercedes can provide.
Focus on the future
While Mercedes will be hoping to fight this year, they cannot lose focus on the future. It seems unlikely that the Silver Arrows will be Championship contenders this year. But if they play their cards right, they could be back on top next year.
With the new technical regulations coming into effect in 2026, it provides Mercedes with the chance to jump back to the top. It has been reported that the Mercedes power unit for 2026 has delivered the most promising results so far. Now, they just need to work together and bring it home.
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The current driver lineup for Mercedes is not yet a Championship-winning lineup. But they could be in the near future. There were rumours of Toto Wolff pursuing Max Verstappen. But according to the latest report, Mercedes is happy with their current lineup. This is why focusing more on the future than the 2025 season makes more sense for Mercedes.
Do you think Mercedes should focus more on their 2025 campaign or more on their development for 2026 when the new set of regulations takes effect? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
