As the F1 2025 season heats up, Mercedes is gearing up to give McLaren a run for its money.
After just six races into the F1 2025 season, McLaren has established a commanding presence in the championship, leading by 95 points over Mercedes in the Constructors’ standings. Their drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, are holding the top two spots, with Piastri leading by 16 points over Norris. Max Verstappen and George Russell trail behind, but Russell’s impressive performance has been noted by former champion Jacques Villeneuve. Villeneuve believes Russell could be quietly positioning himself as a threat, saying, “They’ve got more points than actually we know. We look at the screen, ‘oh wow, they got a lot of points’.”
However, Mercedes is not backing down. With an ‘exciting’ W16 upgrade set to debut at the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Mercedes aims to reclaim its position in the championship. According to technical director James Allison, these upgrades could turn the tide, potentially addressing the team’s ongoing struggle with tire temperatures. Martin Brundle, former F1 driver and current analyst, also expressed optimism about Mercedes’ prospects, suggesting that it’s too early to hand McLaren the title with so many races and sprints remaining.
Brundle warns McLaren of potential pitfalls, noting how focusing too much on their internal rivalry between Piastri and Norris could be detrimental. He likened the situation to the 1986 season when Alain Prost capitalized on the internal conflict of the Williams team to secure a championship win. He stressed the importance of maintaining focus on external competitors like Verstappen and Russell, who continue to accumulate points.
Russell, acknowledging McLaren’s current dominance, remains hopeful yet realistic about his title chances. “I’d love to say so, but I don’t think we are,” he commented after the Bahrain race. He highlighted McLaren’s consistency across varying conditions and pointed out that while Mercedes is not on par at this moment, the upgrades might change the dynamics in the coming races.
The pressure is mounting on all teams as the European leg of the season approaches, with many looking to capitalize on updates to reduce McLaren’s lead. Brundle’s insights underscore the unpredictable nature of Formula 1, where strategic decisions and timely upgrades can dramatically alter the course of the championship.
As Mercedes looks to challenge McLaren’s stronghold on the 2025 season, only time will tell if their latest upgrades will be the catalyst for change. The F1 world watches eagerly as the competition intensifies.
