Toto Wolff remains cautious when discussing Mercedes’ expectations for the 2025 Formula 1 season as the team works toward regaining its position as a title contender. Since the introduction of ground-effect regulations, Mercedes has struggled to find consistent success.
The team secured only one victory in 2022 and failed to win a single race in 2023. Last season brought four wins, but the W15’s unpredictable performance made it difficult to maximize its potential.
Mercedes Struggles With Performance Consistency
Issues with ride height and track temperature fluctuations created inconsistent results, making the car challenging to manage. Mercedes found success under specific conditions, particularly in cooler weather with fresh track surfaces.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was a prime example, where George Russell secured a dominant victory from pole position, and former teammate Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in second place.
With a new campaign on the horizon, Wolff remains measured in his approach, choosing not to make bold predictions about how the team will perform.
“These cars are incredibly tricky to fine-tune perfectly, and we’ve only managed to do it on rare occasions,” Wolff told reporters, including those from RacingNews365. “In Las Vegas, we had a dominant performance, but at other venues, we struggled to even contend for a podium finish.
“That’s why I’d prefer to say less and focus on our performance in testing. We need to determine if we’ve addressed some of the balance issues, gained better control over tire management, and improved every consistency. Once testing is complete, we’ll have a clearer idea of where we stand.
Preparing for a Championship Fight
“George is prepared to compete for the championship, and our job is to ensure that both he and Kimi [Antonelli] have a car capable of fighting at the front.”
