Ex-F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has “no confidence” Mercedes will probably be a title-contending workforce in 2025.
Mercedes endured their worst season in nicely over a decade in 2024, ending fourth within the F1 constructors’ Championship.
Whereas Mercedes had been capable of take 4 victories – two apiece for George Russell and Lewis Hamilton – their type was extremely inconsistent.
It continues a sample from the beginning of the present algorithm in 2022, with Mercedes failing to understand what’s required to be persistently fast on the entrance of F1.
Palmer, who raced for Renault in 2016 and 2017, doubts Mercedes will get their act collectively in 2025.
“Las Vegas was the one the place they’d the very best automotive. However Vegas is a freak circuit. It’s situations that you simply don’t get anyplace else,” Palmer defined on BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast.
“Even Qatar was chilly the week after. It wasn’t Vegas stage of chilly. They usually weren’t in the identical ballpark.
“I simply suppose with yearly, 22 was a head-scratcher. They got here on sturdy. Russell received the race in Brazil. And also you thought, ‘okay, perhaps they’ve learnt for 23.’ No, 23 was a head-scratcher. After which they got here on sturdy. And Hamilton was good on the finish of the 12 months and had good races in Austin and the like, completed third within the championship.
“And also you thought, ‘okay, 24, that is going to be their 12 months.’ Now, 24 has been a head-scratcher. After which Hamilton and Russell come on sturdy on the finish of the 12 months in Vegas. And also you suppose, ‘okay, they’ll get it for 25.’ You get my drift. I’ve no confidence it’s going to occur, however we’ll see.”
A brand new period for Mercedes
2025 will probably be a brand new period for Mercedes, given it’s their first season with out Hamilton since 2012.
18-year-old wonderkid Andrea Kimi Antonelli makes the step up from System 2, whereas Russell will probably be Mercedes’ pure workforce chief.
With the foundations remaining secure over the winter, it’s set to be an thrilling battle on the entrance between McLaren, Ferrari, and Purple Bull.
Mercedes will probably be hoping to search out much-needed consistency over the winter to shut the hole to the highest three.
Regardless, they are going to be pinning their hopes on 2026 and the brand new engine guidelines.
