In an Interview posted on the Mercedes F1 Team’s YouTube channel, team principal Toto Wolff looks back at the team’s 2025 F1 season and the performance of drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes finished the 2025 F1 season second in the Constructors’ Championship after a season-long battle with Red Bull and Ferrari for the runner-up position behind a dominant McLaren.
While second in the Constructors’ Championship certainly could be considered a strong result, it is not the result Mercedes was aiming for, says Wolff. Their team principal points to the team’s strong desire to win and to fight for the Championship as the reason he is not entirely satisfied with P2 in the standings.
They have not been champions in either championship since 2021.
A strong result despite being behind the team’s goals
“I’m a little bit in two minds because in 10 years you look back at the stats and you can see a vice world champion, P2. But the reality is that we didn’t achieve our goals. We want to win.
“We want to win races. We want to be in the hunt for a world championship and hopefully win. And we didn’t.
“And that is the pain of the moment that it just wasn’t good enough.”
A cornerstone of Mercedes’ success this season was George Russell’s solid performance, who finished fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with two wins and nine podiums. He completed every racing lap bar two in Monaco.
Wolff praised Russell’s performance as “really outstanding,” highlighting the Briton’s capability to extract maximum performance from a less-than-stellar W16. According to Wolff, the 27-year-old’s aptitude to deliver under suboptimal conditions was evidenced by his wins at the F1 Canadian and Singapore GPs, as well as several podium finishes.
A 2025 F1 season to be “proud” of for Russell
The Mercedes boss reckons that Russell “can be proud” of his performance during the 2025 F1 season and that the team is “lucky” to have him on board.
“His performances were really outstanding because we didn’t always give them a car that was easy to drive. On some weekends, the car was exceptional from the first pre-practice. On others, we just couldn’t control it.
“We just never got to a space where it was fast, where it gave them a stable platform. And most of the time, he was able to drive around it. And the podiums and the victories are a testament to that.
“And I think when you look at the driver’s standings, considering that we weren’t always on top, where he finished and the points he contributed to the Constructor Championship, something that he can be proud of. And we are lucky to have him.
Antonelli’s performance was as expected
While Russell delivered one of his strongest seasons to date, his new teammate Kimi Antonelli struggled a bit more. Given his rookie status, performance “ups and downs” were something Wolff had anticipated when he decided to give the seat to the young Italian.
Antonelli experienced a tough run of races, particularly throughout the European leg of the 2025 F1 season. The 19-year-old’s challenges were further intensified by immense pressure to perform for the team and media scrutiny.
Wolff believes Antonelli “overall” had a “good” 2025 F1 season
Despite the hardships, Wolff never lost trust in his young charge’s talent, speed, or ability. Overall, the 53-year-old Austrian believes Antonelli had a “good” season filled with “learnings” that should set the Italian up for a successful run in the upcoming 2026 F1 season.
“Last year, when we announced that he would drive in the car, I said that we’re going to have ups and downs, moments of brilliance, and then other moments where you want to clear your hair out because of the, you call them learnings, because of the mistakes. That’s what it is. And I think we have seen exactly that.
“We’ve seen very strong races at the beginning of the season, particularly towards the end. But I think we never doubted in the speed, the talent, and his ability. It’s just you’re being thrown to the cannibals in Formula One.
“The intense pressure of the media, the responsibility you have to Mercedes, to the many people that are giving their all to provide you with an engine and a car. And I think probably that was the learning throughout the middle of the season, particularly in Europe, with all the, everybody wants something from you. And he’s a good person.
“So he didn’t want to say no either. Overall, I would see a good season, full of learning, a strong base to move from here and start in 2026 with a new car, new to everyone. And you know what to expect.”
