F1 News
Mercedes over the hill? Wolff looks to Australia: 'This is just the beginning'
In a press release, Mercedes team principal and CEO, Toto Wolff, speaks regarding the German team's future and states 'this is just the beginning' of the Brackley-based outfit's new era, as he looks ahead of the 2025 season opener, the Australian Grand Prix.
It was a tough 2024 for Mercedes, but kinder than 2023. With both of its drivers back then, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, each taking home to Brackley two wins a piece, it certainly improved the big zero they had the season before last. Thus, naturally, Wolff looks ahead and desires to shift the currents for the Germans as the season prepares to get underway in the matter of mere days.
''We will write the opening lines of our next chapter at the Australian Grand Prix. It's an exciting time as we build upon the incredible legacy of the Mercedes brand in motorsport. We will be striving to set new benchmarks and fulfil new dreams in the years ahead. That will take every single one of us: from the drivers to the mechanics, engineers, everyone at Brackley and Brixworth and, of course, our fans," reads the start of the hopeful message.
Stating the components that make-up Mercedes' DNA, ''Innovation; Pushing the boundaries; The pioneering spirit of our founders,'' what 'drives them forward', he of course, addresses its "homegrown" all new driver lineup of Russell, and Hamilton's replacement, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. ''With George and Kimi, two homegrown talents from our junior programme graduates, we have a strong driver line-up that combines experience, youth, and raw speed. It is an exciting duo that will lead us into our next era.''
Mercedes, 'over the hill'?
''As a team, we had an uphill challenge over the winter. Our competitors finished 2024 strongly and we know that Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren in particular, should have a performance advantage over us initially,'' added Wolff regarding the gap Mercedes had to close to its rivals in the development battle. Boasting a successful winter, Bahrain testing included, the Austrian is confident ahead of the season start in Australia this weekend, but knows what's important and when.
"Both drivers commented favourably on the W16 after the three days, and we seem to have made improvements. Of course, the only thing that matters is how we measure up against the stopwatch relative to our competitors. We will certainly begin to get a clearer picture on that this weekend.''
For Australia, Wolff is reminded of the prelude to a successful past, by the "beginning" of Mercedes' new story. ''I remember my first race with the team there in 2013; we held a photoshoot with our drivers on St Kilda Beach and there was a palpable sense of renewed energy. There is also always a start of term feel in the paddock and it therefore feels like an appropriate location to launch our next chapter. As George says at the end of the film: 'This is just the beginning.' And we are excited for what lies ahead,'' Wolff concludes.
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