2025 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[SoulPancake13]

How does George Russell continue to get a free pass? Another botched start. His last 6 weekends were very poor for the lofty claims that are made about him. Botched starts in COTA, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Poor race pace/tire management in Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, and Las Vegas (despite P2).

This "lead" Mercedes driver should have scored more points this year.

Quite frankly, it is hard to judge his relative performance when the driver in the other car is a (albeit very talented) rookie with ~2 years of single seater experience.

[Lasssept]

[ScuderiaLeo]

The thread remained calm and civilized for greatest part of the season, except some George haters having come here to downplay him when Antonelli did well.

Antonelli has been a huge disappointment. Unlike George in 2022, Antonelli didn't have to handle a rabid car. But yet, he was quite far behind George. I didn't expect him to outshine George in any way. But I thought he would nick a win by the end of the season and a few podiums. Hope he can have a better second season. It's going to be totally new design of cars and it would be a good place to start again for him with a year worth of experience. Let's see if he can do what Oscar did this season.

Huge disappointment seems a bit dramatic. He didn't perform to Toto's hype but he had some moments of brilliance and got better throughout the season.

His errors seem worse than other rookie's because he's in a better car and fighting against the top dogs, but Bortoleto, Bearman and even Hadjar on a few occasions have all made "silly" errors too.

The pace and bravery he showed when he was comfortable with the car should provide some optimism for any Merc fan, the foundation for a good driver is there.

[PlatinumZealot]

Yeah when the conditions are to his liking his pace is magic.

[Quantum]

I swear Russell finished 4th with 2 wins and 7 podiums this year

Also outscored Antonelli by 169 points(More than 100% of Antonelli's total), the only reference point one can take without going woo woo.
People making excuses for Verstappen when he was finishing outside the top 3 don't afford those same criteria to Russell, of course. Says all you need to know.

[Lasssept]

[Matt2725]

I swear Russell finished 4th with 2 wins and 7 podiums this year

Also outscored Antonelli by 169 points(More than 100% of Antonelli's total), the only reference point one can take without going woo woo.
People making excuses for Verstappen when he was finishing outside the top 3 don't afford those same criteria to Russell, of course. Says all you need to know.

Yeah there's a few regular posters who've ran into this thread this year the second George had a less than perfect race. Hell, even when he had a perfect race for what the car was capable of, they still tried to downplay it.

I suspect it's from the same camp of people who were convinced Max was displacing George next season, and now it hasn't happened they're just jumping on the bandwagon to downplay his achievements. The same people will be all over the 2026 thread about how George "isn't doing enough" to guarantee his seat for 2027 and "Max will be confirmed any day now". Even if George is leading the WDC by 40-50+ points.

[Quantum]

Yeah there's a few regular posters who've ran into this thread this year the second George had a less than perfect race. Hell, even when he had a perfect race for what the car was capable of, they still tried to downplay it.

I suspect it's from the same camp of people who were convinced Max was displacing George next season, and now it hasn't happened they're just jumping on the bandwagon to downplay his achievements. The same people will be all over the 2026 thread about how George "isn't doing enough" to guarantee his seat for 2027 and "Max will be confirmed any day now". Even if George is leading the WDC by 40-50+ points.

The agenda is grinding. Look at the bitterness of Lando's WDC victory

What is eye-opening is that 2 bad starts in an otherwise very consistent season in not the best car, "but Russell had a couple of bad starts bro and we aint having it!"
You could deep dive into the technicalities, such as Antonelli also have several bad starts and Merc having 2nd gear (first phase)wheelspin issues in a few races....but it is pointless because it just moves onto the next negative point.

[SB15]

I swear Russell finished 4th with 2 wins and 7 podiums this year

Also outscored Antonelli by 169 points(More than 100% of Antonelli's total), the only reference point one can take without going woo woo.
People making excuses for Verstappen when he was finishing outside the top 3 don't afford those same criteria to Russell, of course. Says all you need to know.

Yeah there's a few regular posters who've ran into this thread this year the second George had a less than perfect race. Hell, even when he had a perfect race for what the car was capable of, they still tried to downplay it.

I suspect it's from the same camp of people who were convinced Max was displacing George next season, and now it hasn't happened they're just jumping on the bandwagon to downplay his achievements. The same people will be all over the 2026 thread about how George "isn't doing enough" to guarantee his seat for 2027 and "Max will be confirmed any day now". Even if George is leading the WDC by 40-50+ points.

George will have the biggest opportunity to put such a gap between him and Antonelli at the beginning of the year towards the middle of the season which will solidify his title victory. But I do expect Kimi to come into his own during the last 8 or races but it'll be already too late to make a charge. I do see Aston Martin being a clear P2 with McLaren and Williams fighting for 3rd.

But yeah I agree that the thread in 2026 will be very active, maybe even THE MOST active when the supposed Max to Mercedes rumors start and Redbull are struggling massively.

[nitrotech]

I swear Russell finished 4th with 2 wins and 7 podiums this year

Also outscored Antonelli by 169 points(More than 100% of Antonelli's total), the only reference point one can take without going woo woo.
People making excuses for Verstappen when he was finishing outside the top 3 don't afford those same criteria to Russell, of course. Says all you need to know.

Yeah there's a few regular posters who've ran into this thread this year the second George had a less than perfect race. Hell, even when he had a perfect race for what the car was capable of, they still tried to downplay it.

I suspect it's from the same camp of people who were convinced Max was displacing George next season, and now it hasn't happened they're just jumping on the bandwagon to downplay his achievements. The same people will be all over the 2026 thread about how George "isn't doing enough" to guarantee his seat for 2027 and "Max will be confirmed any day now". Even if George is leading the WDC by 40-50+ points.

George will have the biggest opportunity to put such a gap between him and Antonelli at the beginning of the year towards the middle of the season which will solidify his title victory. But I do expect Kimi to come into his own during the last 8 or races but it'll be already too late to make a charge. I do see Aston Martin being a clear P2 with McLaren and Williams fighting for 3rd.

But yeah I agree that the thread in 2026 will be very active, maybe even THE MOST active when the supposed Max to Mercedes rumors start and Redbull are struggling massively.

2026 Mercedes team thread would become sales pitch for Max to Mercedes! Expect swarms of fan posts justifying why Max should be in Mercedes. I don't mind seeing Max at Mercedes so long as Max fans push the agenda of Max to Mercedes, but also doesn't resist George staying, I am in for it. But I know that's not going to happen. Max fans are used to having a subservient team mate and 2 other cars that jump out of the way. So it's hard to expect them to want Max and George in the same team to see if Max can beat a competitive team mate.

[Lasssept]

[Chuckjr]

Interesting interview with Toto Wolff & Hywel Thomas.

[Matt2725]

Yeah there's a few regular posters who've ran into this thread this year the second George had a less than perfect race. Hell, even when he had a perfect race for what the car was capable of, they still tried to downplay it.

I suspect it's from the same camp of people who were convinced Max was displacing George next season, and now it hasn't happened they're just jumping on the bandwagon to downplay his achievements. The same people will be all over the 2026 thread about how George "isn't doing enough" to guarantee his seat for 2027 and "Max will be confirmed any day now". Even if George is leading the WDC by 40-50+ points.

The agenda is grinding. Look at the bitterness of Lando's WDC victory

What is eye-opening is that 2 bad starts in an otherwise very consistent season in not the best car, "but Russell had a couple of bad starts bro and we aint having it!"
You could deep dive into the technicalities, such as Antonelli also have several bad starts and Merc having 2nd gear (first phase)wheelspin issues in a few races....but it is pointless because it just moves onto the next negative point.

Yes it's all a bit silly. I've just set one poster to ignore as their takes are nuclear when it comes to George.

[Macklaren]

Interesting interview with Toto Wolff & Hywel Thomas.

Yeah that was a great listen. esp on the 2026 regs