George Russell expresses optimism about the new Mercedes Formula 1 car. The British driver claimed during the launch of the new partnership with Adidas that the team is implementing several key changes that have been in the pipeline for a long time. Despite Mercedes’ past struggles with the so-called ground effect regulations, Russell predicts an exciting season.
Although Mercedes won four Grands Prix in 2024, the team finished in fourth place in the championship. Rivals McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull often outperformed drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Moreover, both struggled with the unpredictable W15, Mercedes’ third car under the ground effect regulations. Since the introduction of these rules, the German racing team has been plagued by inconsistency.
Flying Start?
With the latest achievement, the W16, the team is introducing several crucial changes, according to Russell. It is hoped that he and newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli can make a flying start. The technical regulations remain fairly stable, so the expectation is that the cars at the forefront will again be evenly matched. During the launch of the partnership between Mercedes and clothing giant Adidas, Russell shared his optimism.”There haven’t been many direct changes compared to last year,” he explained to Sky Sports. “These are things that have been in the pipeline for a long time. We couldn’t implement them on the car in 2024, but we’ve been working on them for a long time. We are optimistic that it will be a step in the right direction. At the same time, we of course don’t know what the competition has done. With the new regulations of 2026 in mind, it will be very interesting to see whether the teams continue to develop or not.”
Russell is confident that he can compete for the title, provided the car is good enough. Multiple champion Max Verstappen was already challenged last year by peers Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc. The 26-year-old Brit would like to join that fight. “I’m ready,” he concluded. “In the last few years, we’ve shown that we seize all opportunities. If the car is good enough, we’re in it to win.”
