2025 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[basti313]

"The likelihood I'm not at Mercedes next year is, I think, exceptionally low,"

I agree on that. He will most probably replace Bottas who will join Caddi.

I imagine Red Bull 2026 with Tsunoda and Hadjar.

I thought they want Piastri?
Would open the door for Nor and Rus in the McLaren?
But that is a bit too fast I guess. So if Rus does not have a seat in the summer, my bet is still on Mercedes backseat.

[Matt2725]

Note to TeamLH...your driver is at Ferrari now if you weren't aware. No need to troll this thread any more thanks.

Wolff isn't putting Russell in as the reserve driver and you're delusional if you think that he would.

[Quantum]

I think Mercedes is just lacking an experienced team leader and benchmark since Hamilton left. Russell is far out of his depth and showed his limitations as a team leader in Silverstone.

Quantum, Matt, TeamKoolGreen, etc don't bother. I am not arguing with you anymore. I know where you stand already. "Ham, Max overrated. George can do no wrong. We don't need Max. Mercedes bad"

Yea meanwhile Max spun off from 2nd and a podium to 5th, literally an unforced schoolboy error at the restart.
Don't see any critique on that though. Obviously.

[kurtj]

I think Mercedes is just lacking an experienced team leader and benchmark since Hamilton left. Russell is far out of his depth and showed his limitations as a team leader in Silverstone.

Doesn't that apply to Max currently? The car is going down the slope while Max is the team leader. Shouldn't he be held responsible for the downward spiral of car's performance? Besides, Hamilton struggled in this era of cars at Mercedes and it was George who did better in the 3 years together. Isn't it? The fact of the matter is, everyone is a great team leader and a great benchmark when the car is great.

[Matt2725]

Anyone can look like a great team leader with a subservient teammate like Valtteri Bottas.

George (and Leclerc) made a reasonable gamble going to slicks at the start. They were starting to come good but they didn't take into account that this grid is quite crash prone this year.

[Matt-A]

Any chance George bought into those rumours about Max's performance clause and he thought it would suit him well to finish this race behind Max???

[Quantum]

Any chance George bought into those rumours about Max's performance clause and he thought it would suit him well to finish this race behind Max???

I don't buy that.

The team offered a gamble and George took it. He was what, in 6th place? Finished 9th, worth a gamble in my view from a risk reward perspective. The only contentious point I would say is worthy of constructive criticism is why the team put Hard tyres on. I was shaking my head seeing that live.

[avantman]

I think a big role that Kimi cannot show his talent is the car that is really bad. Russel is many years in the team and no matter what, knows the DNA of it even though he really upped his game.
Let's hope that the 2026 will be better, then we will see if Kimi is up for the task.

That contradicts with Kimi's own statements. From the beginning of the season he was saying the car feels very nice and easy to drive.

[Lasssept]

[r85]

Good. It's a pretty stable car compared to the W15 but lacks the outright pace to challenge for wins or podiums.

[Tonino]

Upgrades? They’re not upgrades until they’re proven to work. So maybe they should stop calling them that. Not holding my breath that they’ll work any better than the ones they've already brought. But hey, why not keep throwing money, time, and resources down the drain for no reason? Focusing on next year would be too sensible.

[Luscion]

Upgrades? They’re not upgrades until they’re proven to work. So maybe they should stop calling them that. Not holding my breath that they’ll work any better than the ones they've already brought. But hey, why not keep throwing money, time, and resources down the drain for no reason? Focusing on next year would be too sensible.

Theyve already switched full focus on to the W17, these upgrades would have been in the pipeline for months

[Lasssept]

[Quantum]

If true, I do hope Merc don't follow the RB route of tilting the entire(including catering) team one direction.
Rumour has it Yuki wanted some sushi and was offered 5 different varieties of Stamppot in the RB catering hub.
That has a stupidly high rate of maybe not being completely in/accurate.

Real misgivings about the possibility Max joining, that are not talent related.
Temperament for instance. Mistakes creep in when pressure is applied. Not as a rule but as a trend.
However, personal misgivings aside....I think he's probably the best driver on the grid for these formula of cars.
If Merc keep Kimi and pair him with Max, they're burying the young lads career.

[MB_Racer]

Horner out of RB!!

Max coming to Merc for sure !?!

https://racingnews365.com/breaking-chri ... ate-effect