2025 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[Lasssept]

[Jdn1327]

I gotta say...George and kimi are fast becoming the top driver pairing in F1. I wasn't convinced with Kimi at first because of the hype. But he seems to be living up to it now. The inconsistencies will be ironed out with more experience
But he is certainly the most exciting prospect since Verstappen.

And George is definitely a solid title contender. He is out performing the car and if 5th is bad day...that'll be ok. With the redbull underperforming, Ferrari being a clown show most of the time and mclaren fighting each other...George can certainly pick up the pieces. I know it's only the 4th race...but we're allowed to dream.

[basti313]

I gotta say...George and kimi are fast becoming the top driver pairing in F1.

Yes, dream...tell us when you wake up!

But he seems to be living up to it now.

No idea where you take this from. His middle stint was absolutely sub par. Not really on pace of Russel, living in 2sec away from Ocon in a Haas...still killed his tires and had to swap early. That killed his race....or he killed it himself.
He still has to learn a lot and is in a good position for that. But no reason to glorify now just because he overtook Verstappen (who at this point was slower than Doohan)...

And George is definitely a solid title contender.

Title? He is a contender over all against Kimi and has to be. I am impressed by his change: While in the last two seasons after fighting a hot race, he would have come out of the car completely wasted and sweat through...this year is completely different. He gets out of the car and looks in shape like all other top drivers. He certainly did a very good job on fitness.

[kurtj]

I am impressed by his change: While in the last two seasons after fighting a hot race, he would have come out of the car completely wasted and sweat through...this year is completely different. He gets out of the car and looks in shape like all other top drivers. He certainly did a very good job on fitness.

That was because they had oven built with the seats until last year as the catering team didn't have enough space in their logistics and they had also decorated the car with a disco suspension. It was also a mechanical lab on wheels with all those experiments Mercedes R&D team used to carry out for building cars for Mars. This year it appears they have removed all that and the car works more like an F1 car and the drivers are not guinea pigs anymore, they come out of the car looking more like humans. Other teams haven't been that creative and their drivers didn't really contribute anything besides, driving.

[bananapeel23]

I gotta say...George and kimi are fast becoming the top driver pairing in F1.

This is an absurd thing to say when the McLaren drivers are so close and Ferrari has Leclerc and Hamilton.

You can make a case that the current Mercedes pairing has the potential to grow and become the best pairing in F1, but you are insane if you claim they are the best right now.

[SiLo]

Considering how tight the grid is, Kimi is just missing a tiny bit of speed that makes a big difference in results. Excited to see what the second half of his year is like.

[Quantum]

I gotta say...George and kimi are fast becoming the top driver pairing in F1.

This is an absurd thing to say when the McLaren drivers are so close and Ferrari has Leclerc and Hamilton.

You can make a case that the current Mercedes pairing has the potential to grow and become the best pairing in F1, but you are insane if you claim they are the best right now.

I'm not advocating either way. But you can't call it insanity.

When last did Lando or Leclerc mug Verstappen like Kimi did in Bahrain for example?

[SoulPancake13]

I gotta say...George and kimi are fast becoming the top driver pairing in F1.

This is an absurd thing to say when the McLaren drivers are so close and Ferrari has Leclerc and Hamilton.

You can make a case that the current Mercedes pairing has the potential to grow and become the best pairing in F1, but you are insane if you claim they are the best right now.

I'm not advocating either way. But you can't call it insanity.

When last did Lando or Leclerc mug Verstappen like Kimi did in Bahrain for example?

When Leclerc has had the car, he has always competed with Max and pulled off brilliant maneuvers. Also, since when has Max had such a bad car?

[Lasssept]

[basti313]

He should sign quick...

[Matt2725]

He should sign quick...

There is no danger from you know who signing or Merc taking him over Russell.

But I'm sure both sides would like to get pen to paper soon to put it behind them.

[kurtj]

Someone at the board would have asked Toto to stop chasing Max, especially with the consistent performances from George now. If they do have a lead in 2026 PU, then keeping George makes perfect sense, while it also makes sense from a financial stand point. 80 to 100 million per year Vs 30 million.

George is definitely better than the likes of Lando in pure speed and racing skills and on par with someone like Leclerc on pure speed. But if the car is difficult, then George is better than Leclerc in terms of learning, optimizing and getting best out of the equipment. A shy short of Max in some ways, but on a regular basis, can deliver as much.

[basti313]

He should sign quick...

There is no danger from you know who signing or Merc taking him over Russell.

Sure? Me not...

Someone at the board would have asked Toto to stop chasing Max, especially with the consistent performances from George now. If they do have a lead in 2026 PU, then keeping George makes perfect sense, while it also makes sense from a financial stand point. 80 to 100 million per year Vs 30 million.

No. If they want marketing value, they need a superstar in the car.
I mean...I really not like these superstars like Ham or Max...but if they ride to a dominant WDC and WCC next year again with George...it will be as boring as Lando vs. Oscar...
Even Kimi would give tons more marketing value than George.

No one on any board would vote against going for Max if he is somehow payable.

[Matt2725]

Someone at the board would have asked Toto to stop chasing Max, especially with the consistent performances from George now. If they do have a lead in 2026 PU, then keeping George makes perfect sense, while it also makes sense from a financial stand point. 80 to 100 million per year Vs 30 million.

George is definitely better than the likes of Lando in pure speed and racing skills and on par with someone like Leclerc on pure speed. But if the car is difficult, then George is better than Leclerc in terms of learning, optimizing and getting best out of the equipment. A shy short of Max in some ways, but on a regular basis, can deliver as much.

Wolff made it clear he'd stopped chasing Max last year. That was all about bringing Max into the team for 2025, which never happened so they signed Kimi after the summer break.

Max's value to a team is being vastly overstated IMO. He's the best on the grid right now but not by much when it's all said and done. He can't perform miracles and if you have a pairing that works and is delivering (as Merc has I would say)...then you don't upset that.
The only "top" team that both drivers aren't delivering consistently is Ferrari (and RBR but their driver allocations are a mess).

[Quantum]

This is an absurd thing to say when the McLaren drivers are so close and Ferrari has Leclerc and Hamilton.

You can make a case that the current Mercedes pairing has the potential to grow and become the best pairing in F1, but you are insane if you claim they are the best right now.

I'm not advocating either way. But you can't call it insanity.

When last did Lando or Leclerc mug Verstappen like Kimi did in Bahrain for example?

When Leclerc has had the car, he has always competed with Max and pulled off brilliant maneuvers. Also, since when has Max had such a bad car?

Always?

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... zhJZ98myCz

Leclerc was in his 38th race....

I will reiterate again for the benefit of the driver DEFENDORS, I'm not advocating either way. I'm saying its not insanity to have the opinion.