The 2025 season marked a brand new period for Mercedes, with George Russell stepping up as workforce chief whereas rookie Kimi Antonelli arrived to fill the emptiness left by Lewis Hamilton. A robust begin to the marketing campaign was adopted by a run of more durable races – however after reverting to an older package deal appeared to ship outcomes simply earlier than the summer season break, can the Silver Arrows preserve this into the second half of the 12 months? Right here is their half time period report…
Greatest end
George Russell – 1st in Canada
Russell appeared to be in a very good run of kind when the marketing campaign kicked off, the Briton standing on the rostrum at 4 of the opening six races. The European triple header was more difficult for each Russell and Antonelli – however higher was to return at Spherical 10 in Canada.
In a repeat of what occurred on the similar venue 12 months earlier, Russell grabbed pole place in Qualifying. Nonetheless, in contrast to the 2024 occasion – wherein he misplaced out on the win to Max Verstappen – the Mercedes driver this time transformed that P1 grid slot into victory.
The end result was made all of the sweeter by the opposite W16 of Antonelli making it a double podium in third place, marking the primary time that the Italian had stood on the podium in his younger F1 profession.
Qualifying head-to-head
Russell 13-1 Antonelli
Maybe unsurprisingly throughout Antonelli’s first season within the prime echelon, Russell has outscored the rookie in all however one Grand Prix Qualifying session to this point, along with his greatest displaying being that pole place in Montreal.
The weekend wherein Antonelli put himself forward of his extra skilled workforce mate on the grid was at Spherical 6 in Miami, the teen taking P3 whereas Russell lined up two locations behind. This additionally got here simply in the future after Antonelli clinched pole in Dash Qualifying, making him the youngest driver in F1 historical past to take pole place in any format.
Race head-to-head
Russell 14-0 Antonelli
Russell has additionally led the way in which on Sundays from Antonelli, having crossed the road earlier than his fellow Silver Arrows driver at each Grand Prix throughout the first half of the season. And whereas Russell is but to undergo a DNF, Antonelli has had worse luck, recording 4 retirements to this point.
Factors-wise, Russell is at the moment sitting in P4 of the Drivers’ Championship with a tally of 172 factors, 108 greater than Antonelli in seventh place. This has given Mercedes a complete of 236 factors, placing them third within the Groups’ Standings.
Worst second
When F1 kicked off its European leg with a triple header spanning Imola, Monaco and Spain, this additionally introduced with it a difficult run for Mercedes. Antonelli retired from his house race in addition to in Barcelona, whereas Russell was concerned in a controversial collision with the Pink Bull of Verstappen on the latter occasion.
Nonetheless, the hardest weekend of all for the Silver Arrows was at Spherical 8 in Monte Carlo. Each drivers suffered early exits in Qualifying, with Antonelli crashing out throughout the closing minutes of Q1 whereas Russell’s automotive misplaced energy in Q2, leaving the pair to begin from P15 and P14 respectively.
Issues didn’t enhance come Sunday, as each drivers discovered themselves caught in visitors. Russell grew to become so pissed off at being unable to move the Williams of Alex Albon that he reduce the Nouvelle Chicane to overhaul, a call he acquired a drive-through penalty for. Crossing the road in P11 – with Antonelli again in P18 – it proved to be the one weekend to this point wherein Mercedes have scored no factors.
Going ahead
Having struggled for tempo compared to their rivals throughout latest races, the choice to revert again to a earlier suspension simply earlier than the summer season break in Hungary appeared to repay for Mercedes, with Russell returning to the rostrum whereas Antonelli scored his first factors since Canada.
With this seemingly suggesting that the introduction of a more moderen package deal again in Could was the reason for their points, the Brackley-based outfit might be hoping that this alteration in route will set them on the best path for the second half of the marketing campaign.
This determination additionally appeared essential in constructing confidence for Antonelli, the rookie having endured some ups and downs throughout his debut season to this point. Russell, in the meantime, has been praised by Technical Director James Allison for “setting a really, very excessive bar”, which means that each drivers might be trying to construct on this additional going ahead.
Off the observe, a lot discuss has centred round Mercedes’ driver line-up for 2026 amid hypothesis linking Verstappen to the workforce. Nonetheless, with the Dutchman not too long ago stating that he’ll stay with Pink Bull, this matter is more likely to be much less of an exterior focus, with Russell conceding that it’s a case of “when not if” he’ll signal a brand new cope with the squad.
Ought to that quickly be settled, each Russell and Antonelli might be centered on attempting to chase down Ferrari within the Groups’ Championship and reclaim the P2 that they held within the earlier phases of the season.
