George Russell says he is optimistic about Mercedes' chances of competing at the top during the upcoming Formula One season. (More Motorsport News)
Mercedes unveiled thei🎉r new car on Monday, with the team intending to improve on their fourth-place finish in the constructors’ championship last season.
Between 2014 and 2021, Mercede⛎s won eight consecutive constructors' titles but have since earned just five Grands ❀Prix victories in three years.
Mercedes won four races in 🧸2024 – two apiece for Russell and former team-mate Lewis Hamilton – claiming the𝕴ir first victories since 2022.
However, inconsistency ജcost them, and they finished the season with 468 points in the construct🧸or standings, behind McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull.
"Every year [since 2022🃏] 🐟we have uncovered a problem, solved it, and it's created a new one," Russell said.
"We have been a lot more disciplinedꦍ with every change we have made, and more thorough than ever in ꦦterms of the simulator running, just to ensure we're not going to fall into a new trap.
"If we bring the performa𒈔nce we expect, it should be a good step forward. There are never guarantees. But I'm optimistic we can have a decent season."
In 2024, Mercedes finished 198 points behind McLaren, who won their first chamꦡpionship since 1998, and Russell believes they are in the strongest position to win the title again.
"Look at 🌌how dominant McLaren were. They are the favourites🍒 going into this year," Russell said.
"In the final year of the regs, it becomes close naturally, but I still expect McLare🐼n to be right at the forefront."
Mer🐬cedes are going into their first season without Hamilton since 2012 after the seven-time champion chose to switch to Ferrari.
E♓ighteen-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli has replaced Hamilton and will race alongside Russell, who is beginning his fourth year with Mercedes.
Despite the big change to 🐎their line-up, team principal Toto Wolff is looking forward to the team's new chapter.
"We open an ex🅠citing new era in the story of our team and Mercedes-AMG motorsport in 2025," Wolff said.
𒅌"We are building on the incredible legacy of ༺our heritage, and we can't wait to go racing.
"We have an exciting line-up to help us achieve our objectives. Both drivers have progress🌳ed through our junior programme and that is a vindication of our commitment to both supporting and developing talent."
F1's track action begins in Bahrain later this week, with three days of testing from February 26-28. The fiꦬrst Grand Prix of the season takes place in Australia on March 16.
