George Russell has emphasised the need for patience and caution after completing his first laps in the Mercedes W16 during a filming day in Bahrain.
Following the official reveal of the W16 on Monday, Mercedes wasted no time in taking the car to the track. Running a shakedown session just 24 hours later. The event served as an initial systems check before pre-season testing kicked off this morning.
Russell’s First Run in the W16
Russell was the first to take the wheel, completing initial laps before handing over the car to his new teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. While onboard footage and trackside clips showcased the W16’s early outing, the team remains guarded about their findings.
Mercedes ultimately opted not to release any official lap times or mileage figures, due to a large number of changes made to their 2025 challenger.
The significant design changes include a revised nose, an updated front wing, and a striking new shark-fin engine cover. This raft of changes has had the Mercedes team, drivers and fans hopeful for the season ahead.
W16 thoughts with George Russell
Russell has avoided making bold declarations or statements about Mercedes’ competitiveness following his first outing in the W16. However, he did express his excitement with finally being able to get on track again.
“It’s great to finally get behind the wheel of the W16… So many months of hard work have gone into this project, and today was the first chance to see it all come together.”
The British driver went on to describe Mercedes’ shakedown as a “silky smooth morning” stating he was ready for the three days of testing ahead of himself and the team.
George Russell did admit there were some early takeaways from the session. However, Russell opted to keep those insights within the team for now. Following Red Bull’s approach of keeping their cards close to their chest before the season begins.
“There are definitely some first impressions, but I’ll keep those to myself and the team for the time being,” he stated.
“We know from last season how much performance can fluctuate from circuit to circuit, so it’s important not to jump to conclusions. But from what I’ve felt so far, I’m happy.”
Mercedes aiming to rebound in 2025
The past few seasons for Mercedes have been tough. 2023 was a winless campaign, but 2024 saw the team secure four victories. However, they still slipped to fourth in the Constructors’ standings behind Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren. Russell finished sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, while Hamilton ended his final Mercedes campaign in seventh.
With the team entering a ‘new era’, Russell is optimistic about his team’s prospects in F1. He expressed his eagerness to see where the team stands compared to its rivals after testing.
“I’m super excited for the year ahead… This time of year always comes with a lot of anticipation. The next three days will be crucial for understanding our package, and then we head to Melbourne for the first race, where we hope to be right in the fight.”
Feature Image Credit: Mercedes Benz Archive
