George Russell has discovered who he feels is the “strongest” group following pre-season trying out in Bahrain ultimate week.
 simply over per week to head till the primary Formula 1 race of the 2025 season in Australia, the British motive force feels that McLaren appears “via way of means of a ways the strongest.” During an interview with BBC Sport, Russell defined:
“I do not suppose both people proper now have a vehicle that doubtlessly is able to beating the McLaren.
“McLaren, with out doubt, appearance via way of means of a ways the strongest. Especially their race tempo appears quite impressive.
“The Papaya group celebrated the Constructors’ Championship in 2024 after an severe warfare with Red Bull and Ferrari, marking the primary time the Woking outfit has received the identify in view that 1998. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured their maiden F1 wins on the Miami and Hungarian Grands Prix, respectively.
After the achievement of ultimate year, McLaren is about to be a robust contender in 2025.Despite its robust overall performance in 2024, McLaren is taking the MCL39 in a barely special route this year, some thing that CEO Zak Brown has defined as a “courageous risk.” He defined to Autosport on the stop of the 2024 season:
“We’re going into subsequent yr at complete strength.
“I suppose we are in a specific attitude now in phrases of the self assurance of the crew and the quantity of bravery that the crew is ready to take withinside the improvement in subsequent yr’s vehicle.
“The crew is not: ‘let’s simply tweak a touch right here and there. The vehicle is quite excellent.’ We’ve were given a few stuff on subsequent yr’s vehicle this is like ‘courageous risk’.
“I suppose you handiest get to the the front in case you try to beat everyone, in place of the attitude while we began out this yr which changed into like ‘let’s simply be as excellent as them.’ The thoughts shift is now: ‘let’s beat everyone’.”
Mercedes, on the alternative hand, completed fourth at the back of Red Bull in 2024. The Brackley-primarily based totally squad is heading into 2025 with a driving force lineup alternate after Lewis Hamilton determined to component approaches with the crew and circulate to the Scuderia.
After taking a while to discover its options, Mercedes opted to signal rookie driving force Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Speaking approximately his new teammate, Russell commented to BBC Sport:
“He’s a top notch kid. He’s very young, however he is a absolutely excellent guy. Super-fast, of course.
“Being thrown in on the deep end, which goes to be a large challenge. But in phrases of uncooked speed, I do not suppose you could query it. And there is going to be an exciting new dynamic.”
