Formula 1
Mercedes has uncovered car changes needed for F1 2025
Review of Mercedes W15 has prompted need for revisions ahead of next season
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Oct 18, 2024, 7:41 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15
Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
Mercedes has reassessed its 2025 Formula 1 car plans and now intends to make changes in several areas, George Russell has revealed.
The team’s struggles since the summer break prompted a deep review of its W15 design over recent weeks, especially as it commits to its challenger for next year.
And off the back of what it has learned from that work back at its Brackley factory, Russell has said that some revisions will now be made for its W16.
“These three weeks off have been great because it's allowed us all to take a step back and reassess the car as a whole - also looking into next year,” he said
“We've definitely uncovered a few things that we want to be changing going into next year.
“And when you're in the midst of a season, you sometimes don't have that opportunity to really dig deep into the fundamentals of the car. So that's been really positive to see.”
Watch: Why Red Bull's Bib "Trick" has Sparked Controversy - F1 US GP Media Day Reaction
Mercedes is introducing an upgrade for this weekend’s United States Grand Prix that Russell hopes can help it relative to the opposition.
“Obviously we reverted with the upgrades that we brought to Spa,” added the Briton. “So effectively we're making two steps now and we bring this upgrade. So, we're hoping it's going to have quite an impact.
“I hope with the upgrade we can be in the fight again, at least in qualifying, and fighting for those top four places. And then in the race fighting for a podium. But realistically we know McLaren and Lando [Norris] are a good step ahead of everyone right now.”
While Mercedes had appeared to fall back since the summer break, Russell’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton has suggested that some of the explanation was because it was out of sync with rivals in terms of its upgrade introduction.
“We’ve been a bit out of sequence to the others,” he said. “The others have brought upgrades at times when we haven’t. We’re bringing an upgrade here for example and some people will bring small pieces here, but maybe not everyone will have the same upgrade that we have.
“[We] ultimately lost our way a little bit with set-up, trying to get as much from this floor that is slowly deteriorating [as it gets old]. I think we understand where we’ve veered off, and hopefully this weekend we can start back on a better balance.”
Read Also:
Formula 1The Russell traits that will ease his adaption to becoming Mercedes team leader
Formula 1Mercedes admits to misreading risk factor over Antonelli's Monza FP1 shunt
Formula 1F1’s latest tech row shows what's at stake as title fight rages
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1’s latest tech row shows what's at stake as title fight rages
Next article Drivers offer mixed reviews to F1 dropping fastest lap point
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Mercedes
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
10 h
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Mercedes: “We had people who hadn’t done a live pitstop for 15 years” in Singapore GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Mercedes: “We had people who hadn’t done a live pitstop for 15 years” in Singapore GP
Latest news
NASCAR explains why they penalized Zane Smith after latest clash with Carson Hocevar
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
5 h
NASCAR explains why they penalized Zane Smith after latest clash with Carson Hocevar
Porsche boss Laudenbach says he is "not happy" with how things were handled by IMSA in 2026
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 5 h
Porsche boss Laudenbach says he is "not happy" with how things were handled by IMSA in 2026
Five things to watch out for at the F1 United States GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
6 h
Five things to watch out for at the F1 United States GP
KTM sees MotoGP 2027 as a fresh start: “We never had the chance to build a new bike”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 7 h
KTM sees MotoGP 2027 as a fresh start: “We never had the chance to build a new bike”
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe