Mercedes tipped to be ahead of Ferrari “early on” as George Russell prediction made
Mercedes look like they could be McLaren's nea♚rest challenger at the first race in Australia.
Mercedes could be set to start the 2025 F1 season as the second-fastest team, 🀅ahead of Ferrari, according to Sky Sports expert Ted Kravitz.
Mercedes enjoyed three great days of testing at the🐎 Bahrain International Circuit last ♔week.
It seemed that the W16 was performing as expectedꦑ.
The car looked benign on track, with no nasty moments mid-corner for either168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: George Russell or 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
They were a close match for Ferrari during the race simulations on day two of testing, with Antonelli and168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Charles Leclerc within a tenth of each other.
Given Antonelli’s lack of experience of doing long runs in the 2025 car on 2025 Pirelli tyres, it was thought that Mercedes would have potentially been a tent♕h or two ahead of Ferrari had Russell been in the car.
Taking this into account, Kr🌺avitz believes Russell has a “great chance” of finishing third at the season-opeಞning Australian Grand Prix, behind the two McLarens.
“I would say that George Russell has got a great chance of being third,” Kravitz s👍ai🐬d.
“That Mercedes is quick. Watch out for Kimi Antonelli. 18-year-old Italian driver, great to have an Italia𝔍n back in Fo𓆉rmula 1.
“While all the attention isꦗ on the man who went from Mercedes to Ferrari, there might be an Italian driver, not in a Ferrari, who manages to get on the podium. That Mercedes is quick.
“I would put it behind the McLarens in terms of where they are on the grid. Mℱaybe, ahead of the Ferraris early on.”
A new era for Mercedes without Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes are embarking on a new era without168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Lewis Hamilton.
It wilไl be their first season without the British driver since 2012 follo🌸wing his seismic switch to Maranello.
Even without Hamilton, Rus🦋sell feels ready to lead the team forward after a breakthrough 2024 season.
Russell had the edge on Hamilton throughout last year, particu൲larly in q💫ualifying.
Russell became the first teammate since 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Nico Rosberg in 2014 to out-qualify Hamilton across 🍎an entire campaign.
He was also able to convert this into a number of impressiv🌺e race drives, most notably dominating Las Vegas from pole position.
With a sharp eye🐎 for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeat of our un💝biased reporting.
