Mercedes have launched the W16 car which will be driven by George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in 2025 F1 season.
The Silver Arrows had unveiled their livery at F1’s launch event last week but has now unveiled their new W16 car in full with extensive focus “… on making improvements in the areas that held us back last year,” explained by Technical Director, James Allison.
Allison proceeded to specify the W15’s weaknesses which have been worked upon as he continued: “Our primary focus has been on dialling out the W15’s slight reluctance to turn in slow corners, along with the imbalance in tyre temperatures that made the car inconsistent from session to session,” with tweaks to aerodynamics and front suspension.
Team Principal, Toto Wolff added that their aim this season is to be “… on challenging for victories more consistently.”
Mercedes for the first time will field two graduates of their junior programme as Antonelli replaces Lewis Hamilton after the Brit quit to join Ferrari at the end of last season, with Wolff excited by their potential.
“George has proven that he is one of the very best drivers on the grid, capable of competing for the Drivers’ Championship if we can give him a car capable of doing so. “As the senior driver, he will help lead the team forward and support Kimi in his development.
“Kimi has all the necessary talent to achieve great things at the pinnacle of the sport, but this is a rookie season and there will inevitably be ups and downs. We’re looking forward to that journey together though and helping him develop over the course of the year,” explained Toto as he urged patience with the 18 year-old Italian.
Valtteri Bottas has returned to the team as reserve driver which is a role that he will share with Frederik Vesti, with Wolff iterating that the team as a whole must “… be at our very best if we want to challenge for championships this season.”
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