A Positive Start to 2025

Day One: Kimi Antonelli – 1:31.428 (C3), 78 Laps, 422 km. George Russell – 1:30.587 (C3), 70 laps, 379 km.

Day Two: George Russell – 1:29.778 (C3), 71 laps, 384 km. Kimi Antonelli – 1:29.784 (C3), 87 laps, 471 km.

Day Three: Kimi Antonelli – 1:30.888 (C3), 61 laps, 330 km. George Russell – 1:29.545 (C3), 91 laps, 492 km

• The team enjoyed a productive three-day test in Bahrain ahead of the 2025 season.
• After the W16 broke cover on Tuesday for a filming day, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli put the team’s 2025 challenger through its paces over a trio of pre-season testing days.
• From Wednesday to Friday, the team completed a vast amount of learning and data gathering over a total just shy of 2,500 kms of running.
• The total lap count for the three days came to 458, more than any other team.
• The team now prepares for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.
• Imagery is available on our media site. All imagery is rights-free for editorial use.

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

We’ve had a solid three days of pre-season testing here in Bahrain. The team has worked hard over the winter to improve on the weaknesses of the W15 and, from the initial signs, we seem to have made good steps in those areas with our 2025 challenger. Despite a few red flag interruptions and some rain, we’ve managed to get through most of the programme. It is a testament to the hard work of everyone at Brackley and Brixworth that we were able to complete the most laps of any team over the course of the test.

Over the next week, we will pick through that data to assess areas of improvement and to bring the most effective race car we can for the first race in Melbourne in two weeks’ time. It is of course far too early to make an accurate prediction of the competitive order.  However, we can be pleased with how the test has gone and look forward to heading to Australia to begin the 2025 season.

George Russell

We’ve had a productive three days here at pre-season testing in Bahrain. The team at Brackley, Brixworth, and here trackside have done a great job to have us ready for the test and rack up a significant amount of mileage. We’ve had a seamless three days, and the car is running well. It is no surprise to see some of our competitors, particularly McLaren, looking strong. We’ve compiled significant data and knowledge which gives the opportunity to find further improvements ahead of Melbourne. Kimi and I will be in the factory next week, driving on the simulator, and everyone will be pushing flat out to ensure we bring our best to Australia. I can’t wait to get started!

Kimi Antonelli

Overall, it’s been a good three days on track here in Bahrain. It’s been a positive test, and we’ve built our knowledge of the W16 with plenty of running. There were a few interruptions and red flags that delayed our programme, but we got through everything we wanted to. The conditions have also been mixed, with cold and windy conditions particularly on the first two days. That has made it even more difficult than usual to get an idea of the competitive order, but we have just focused on our own work and are pleased with what we’ve achieved. We can now go away, look through the data and continue to work on how we can bring the best race car possible to the first race in Melbourne in two weeks’ time.

From my own perspective, I’ve enjoyed getting out on track for the first time as a Mercedes works driver. It’s been good to continue building my experience of working with the team and furthering my preparations for my rookie season. I’m excited to get to Melbourne now and get the 2025 season properly underway