2025 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[Farnborough]

There appears a remarkable lack of anything, for any teams, being given out to discuss currently.

To me, the W15 was their most accomplished car yet, of these current regulations. That would seem to be a more decent baseline from which to work than its predecessors of W's 14/13 iteration.

Interesting to see just what level Antonelli is during the initial races. If as fast as some project, then will be in need of careful guidance in maximising that raw speed.

The team seem to slowly, very slowly, be interpreting and absorbing the reality they created from W13, evolving from that to bring more levelled performance, but critically still advancing in absolute pace to keep within the front running group.

I think it's going to be an interesting "build" year all round for them, and not a surprise if they are generally competitive across a wider expanse in all areas.

Expecting the front end to be brutally competitive, with micro differences in pace making significant positional reality quite variable.

[nitrotech]

I don’t understand the necessity of people posting about Ham

Because otherwise this thread is boring.

It's good to be boring, atleast from Mercedes team standpoint. If they build a winner, attention would naturally come. Otherwise, they can work in peace without any attention or unwanted criticism, from anyone!

[Lasssept]

- Toto Wolff insists he would "rather not talk too much" about how Mercedes will perform in 2025

Heading into the new season, Wolff is keen to keep his counsel over how the team will perform.

"These cars are so complicated to hit the sweet spot, that we've only done it on a few occasions," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365.

"We were ultra-dominant in Las Vegas, and then at other tracks, we were unable to contest for a podium.

"So I'd rather not talk too much and see how we can perform in the tests, and see whether we have solved some of those balance issues, get on top of the tyres and then we shall see.

"George is ready to fight for the championship, we've got to provide him and Kimi [Antonelli] with a car that is fast enough."

https://racingnews365.com/wolff-prepare ... f1-revival

[DGP123]

Sounds like he & Merc have finally learnt to under promise and then over deliver.

We shall see.

[Lasssept]

[Lasssept]

https://x.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/1891546327198089218

[SB15]

https://i.postimg.cc/Fs0GhtK9/imgonline ... -Y1-DI.jpg

https://x.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/1891546327198089218

Bono and Kimi is going to be quite the mentor and student type of relationship

[Tonino]

This is interesting—so close to getting rid of the awful Jim Ratcliffe. Apparently, he changed his mind when he realized this team is the only thing making him money these days. Hopefully, Mercedes or Toto buys him out at some point anyway. On the bright side, it looks like that awful INEOS red will be less prominent on the car this year.

.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Mercedes F1 came close to splitting last year amid tense negotiations over the terms of Ineos’ sponsorship deal with the team, it can be revealed. Telegraph Sport understands Mercedes-Benz, the German car company which, along with Ineos and Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff, owns a one-third stake in the F1 team, went as far as to source financing to buy out Ratcliffe, before the British billionaire had a change of heart and recommitted to the sport.

Telegraph Sport understands Mercedes-Benz, like New Zealand Rugby, was unhappy when Ineos tried to renegotiate the terms of its sponsorship, sourcing financing from a bank to take over Ineos’ one-third stake in the team before Ratcliffe’s about-turn. It is unclear what changed Ratcliffe’s mind but Mercedes F1 is one sporting investment which is likely making Ineos money.

Mercedes F1 were valued at $3.94 billion (£3.16 billion) in November 2024, making them the second-most valuable F1 team behind Ferrari, who were valued at $4.78 billion. As a shareholder, Ineos also receives a substantial dividend each year. In 2023, the most recent accounts available, that dividend was £100 million, of which Ineos’ share would have been roughly £33 million. That almost covered the cost of Ineos’ sponsorship deal with the team that year.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2 ... -backlash/

[Lasssept]

This is interesting—so close to getting rid of the awful Jim Ratcliffe. Apparently, he changed his mind when he realized this team is the only thing making him money these days.

[Lasssept]

The Race

- While Russell hopes that the big changes Mercedes has made will result in some progress on track, he equally knows it will take until the W16 tests in Bahrain for the first time next week to truly know that there has been an improvement.

"I think within five laps you know if you're in for a good season or not, and we've known within the first five laps of the last couple of years that we wouldn't be fighting for the championship, or we knew we wouldn't be fighting at the beginning of the season," he said.

"I feel that it's been much more robust this season. All of the teams are so competitive now, and everyone knows the limitation that they've had over these last three years. If we bring the performance we expect, it should be a good step forward.

"But we've seen it with many other teams, they bring an upgrade and it doesn't work. There's never guarantees."

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/geor ... -2025-car/

[Quantum]

As a shareholder, Ineos also receives a substantial dividend each year. In 2023, the most recent accounts available, that dividend was £100 million, of which Ineos’ share would have been roughly £33 million. That almost covered the cost of Ineos’ sponsorship deal with the team that year.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2 ... -backlash/

So he wanted money to have his company getting free title sponsorship
Seems the Bumbling Billionaire class burgeons.

[Lasssept]

[Lasssept]

[cplchanb]

no more ineos red on the airbox.... first time in 6 years....so slowly shifting back to silver... maybe by 2027 itll be all silver again.

[Lasssept]