Mercedes unveiled their new W16 car during a digital launch on Monday as they gear up for pre-season testing and a fresh start following the departure of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The team has brought in 18-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli to replace Hamilton, who is now 40 and driving for Ferrari. Antonelli will join Britain’s George Russell and experienced reserve driver Valtteri Bottas, a former Mercedes racer, in the lineup.
Team boss Toto Wolff expressed enthusiasm about entering a new era for the team and Mercedes-AMG motorsport in 2025. He stated, “We are building on the incredible legacy of our heritage, and we can’t wait to go racing.”
Wolff acknowledged that while they have made progress during the off-season, they will only truly understand their position when the first race in Australia begins.
Russell, starting his seventh season in the sport, will help lead the team forward. Meanwhile, Antonelli will face the challenges of a rookie year, which Wolff noted would involve “inevitably be ups and downs.”
Mercedes, which won a record eight constructors’ championships in a row from 2014 to 2021, finished fourth last season.
Technical director James Allison mentioned that stable rules regarding the chassis make it more difficult to find significant gains in lap time. He said, “We’ve been concentrating on making improvements in the areas that held us back last year.”
Allison highlighted their focus on addressing the W15’s slight reluctance to turn in slow corners and the imbalance in tire temperatures that led to inconsistency from session to session.
He expressed satisfaction with their winter progress and looked forward to seeing how they compare against other teams.
Allison anticipated a competitive season with multiple winners, potentially exceeding the four teams and seven drivers who won last year.
The season kicks off in Australia on March 16, with Mercedes-powered McLaren aiming to defend their constructors’ title, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen seeks to secure his fifth consecutive drivers’ championship.
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